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Waiting on the Lord's Solution - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) April 21, 2023

Updated: Oct 6, 2023

There once was a woman whose husband died leaving behind many debts. She had the opportunity to speak to Prophet Elisha and here's what she said, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” (2 Kings 4:1).


The conversation continued as follows in 2 Kings 4:2 - Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”


Elisha proceeded to tell her to borrow jars from all of her neighbors, shut the door of her home with just her sons and herself inside, then pour the olive oil she has into each of the jars. She obeyed the Prophet then returned to him for further directions. He then told her, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.” (2 Kings 4:7).


This woman must have had multiple sleepless nights and likely worried herself to bones. The consequences of her husband's debts were severe - her sons could become slaves, losing their freedom.


Nevertheless, the only solution to her problems had to come from the Lord. And as we can all see, the solution was miraculous. How did that "small jar of olive oil" fill all those borrowed containers? God had to move on her behalf to bring her the financial and physical freedom she and her boys needed.

And that's the point. We are all going through challenges that keep us up at night. We wonder what moves we can make to step outside of the 'bondage' these problems create. However, the only solution that will bring permanent freedom and remedy is the one we receive from the Lord. God's solution will not have us doing contemptible things or debasing ourselves. This is why we are told in Proverbs 10:22 - The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, without painful toil for it.


This woman sought out a solution from the Lord and upon receiving His guidance, she followed through. She didn't sit and think of all the things that could go wrong, applying human logic to the things of the Lord. No, she did as instructed and even went back to the Man of God for further directions. And once received, she wasted no time in obeying.


The result was freedom for her family and likely some leftover profit with which she could reinvest into her olive oil selling business.


Hebrews 6:10 tells us, God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. In this story, the woman relied upon her husband's service to the Lord. He was Obadiah, the man who protected 100 of God's prophets from being killed by evil queen Jezebel.


In your case, if you participate in P&P - glorifying God and interceding for your fellow participants and others - you too have access to the very miracle that happened to the widow. Remind God of how you have served Him and ask Him for the key to unlock the shackles over your life. Whatever you need freedom from, you now have a prayer approach to obtain the blessings of God. Wait on the Lord to give you the solution. Don't run out trying one scheme or another without God's sanction. Those are bound to eventually fail. Let God lead and you follow, just as the widow with the olive oil did. This requires patience, submission and trust in the Lord. All virtues you are capable of putting into practice. Plus, if you ask Him to, He will help you do so.


So ask yourself, can you submit to the Lord to ask for His guidance on the issues you face? Can you be patient enough to receive instruction? Can you humble yourself to go back for more details, even if none of it makes logical sense? Can you trust God enough to obey or would you rather do things the way that make sense to you?


God bless you!



As you wait for fellowship, consider reading the following previous P&P messages:

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P L U N D E R E R
P L U N D E R E R
Apr 21, 2023


The Lord wants you to become born again in Jesus Christ. Indeed, the only way any of us will make it to heaven is to be born again. These aren't my words they are from the Lamb of God Himself in John 14:6 - Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Good deeds, kindness and the hallmarks of a well-lived life aren't enough. You have to realize that you can't do life without Him. You need Him to get you out of the messy entanglements you're in. You have to put your pride aside and ask Him to get you there.


Now is your opportunity to…


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P L U N D E R E R
P L U N D E R E R
Apr 21, 2023

LAST 10 MINUTES


We reviewed the story of Prophet Elisha and the widow with the olive oil jars. I pray you were convicted to call on the Lord for His directions to solve the challenges you face.

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That sentiment isn't completely wrong but let me explain how it doesn't make sense for us as believers. Yes, God gave us the capacity to think and apply the brain He gave us for free. However, as believers, He has called us to submit our ability to figure things out on our…


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