I was reading about Elijah this morning in my daily devotions (1 Kings 17). As I read (v7 onwards) about God instructions to Elijah to go to Zareohath, where a widow had been directed to supply Elijah with food, I went into autopilot, thinking that I know this story. But then I suddenly realised that Elijah wasn’t just given food, but he had to ask the widow for it! Though the widow had been directed by God to help, she wasn’t waiting for him with a buffet of all the finest produce, she was searching for wood, so she could cook her final meal, from all that she had left.
It reminded me of a story that I’ve heard Nancy Goudie tell many times (and it is also in her book HOT Faith). It happened in the early days of Ray and her ministry, when they needed a new car and they clearly felt that God said to them to ask Nancy’s brother for his car. They called him and spoke to him about how he was looking to get rid of his car, but they were afraid to ask for it, they were waiting for him to just offer it. It transpired afterwards that he’d been praying about it and felt that he should give the car to them, but not unless they asked for it. To cut a long story short, after about a week, they eventually asked and he agreed to give it to them.
What struck me as I reflected on both these stories, was that God had prompted all the parties involved, but it took the asking the question for the miracle to be released. The miracle wasn’t just for Elijah’s benefit, but the widow also received a miracle as she was prepared to give all that she had. At the current moment in time, I don’t think that God has prompted me to approach anyone for the money to buy the Time2 house, so this revelation might be preparing me for a future conversation, but it might well be speaking into your situation right now. Be bold, don’t be afraid to ask, the worst that could happen is someone says no! The HOT in the title of Nancy’s book refers to Hearing, Obeying and Trusting. Do I (or do you) hear, obey and trust?
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