*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*GOD IS NOT FAR, BUT NEAR.*
*Scripture Treasure.*
1 Kgs 19:11-12
*And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:*
*And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.*
*Insight and Highlight.*
The time we do not feel God may be the time He is closest.
*Scripture Commentaries.*
Elijah was at a crossroads. He was at a place God did not expect him to be. God asked him, *"...What doest thou here,*
*Elijah?* 1 Kgs 19:9.
Whatever reason we profer to his predicaments, we can reliably say he was fleeing from Jezebel, 1 Kgs 19:2.
It was unexpected of him that he would flee from Jezebel.
He thought God was far, but He was not. In fact, it was Elijah that was far beyond where God had placed Him.
He was like the Apostle Paul who said in his trials, *"...to die is gain.* Philp 1:21.
In our walk with God, there are times we often feel Christ is near. These times may be in our young ages as believers. As babes in the Lord, we were often given faster attention just like everyone would give a faster attention to a baby crying.
However, as we grow, things often change.
Many of us often feel we do not see God at work as He used to be at the time we first knew Him.
This can be true as we see in the life of Job that a man who feared God became one who would wish he knew where God was, Job 23:3.
We feel His absence as He appears not to be answering our prayers.
If this is how you feel, you need to know that God may have something in mind, and this is your faith and the test of it.
The moment you do not feel Christ anymore
may be the biggest test of your life.
How? It is the time you have to live with Him by faith.
It may be the time God is really testing you.
With faith, *".....it is the assurance about what we do not see."* Heb 11:1.
The time you feel you do not see God in the time prayer time He ordained for you to seek Him or the time you do not see God in wind and the earthquake, may be the time He is closest to you.
We must always have the assurance that though God may be quiet, He is near. At least we know He is All-knowing.
He knows where each of us is at any point in time.
It is always the biggest test of our lives when we have to live with Him by faith.
God is more than a feeling. He is present and active, Ps 46:1.
At the end of it all, we will hear the still small voice.
If you know God and God knows you, always remember, God is not as far as you think.
Be assured, God is not far, but near!
*Remorse corner.*
Do you think God is far away?
It may be God's way of testing how far you can hold on to Him in faith.
Remember we are *"....not of them who draw back unto perdition....."*, Heb 10:39.
*Call to Word action.*
Heb 10:38-39 *Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.*
*The Christian clarion duty.*
Heb 10: 35-36 *Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.*
*For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.*
*Prayer.*
Lord, do not be far from me. Hear me when l call, in Jesus name.
Good morning all and have a blessed day today.
God bless you.