The courage of Elisha

"Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven, and Elisha....saw him no more." 2 Kings 2 11-12

Today my dear friend Kathy, a wonderful friend and powerful intercessor sent me a devotional to share with my "new believer friends from Houston"....I think it is a word for ALL of us....

"It is not wrong for you to depend you your "Elijah" for as long as God gives him to you. But remember that the time will come when he must leave and will no longer be your guide and your leader, because God does not intend for him to stay. Even the thought of that causes you t0 say "I cannot continue without my "Elijah". Yet God says you must continue".

The following examples of the Jordan, Jericho and Bethel represent the times when we are alone. Where what we have learned is now put to the test...the experience lies before us....to cross over the river (Jordan), to do great things not waiting for some else to do them for us (Jericho) and Bethel where you must rely on God's wisdom, when you are at the end of your own.

Stand true to God and He will bring out HIS truth in a way that will make your life an expression of worship. Put into practice what you learned while with your "Elijah", use his mantle and pray...Make a determination to trust in God and do not even look for Elijah anymore.

WOW as I re-read this over and over....for many years I have said that ministry is the Elijah and Elisha concept....we are mentored by an "Elijah" we become an "Elisha"....then down the road, we become "Elijah" to another and they become "Elisha".....the strength of this model is the ongoing process of applying the teaching and training from others, taking the truth, living it and becoming the example of truth to others.

Kathy felt this was important to encourage those who experienced GOD in such deep ways in Houston, and now they may feel alone, or they "can't" and the TRUTH is

STAND TRUE TO GOD AND HE WILL BRING OUT HIS TRUTH IN A WAY THAT WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE AN EXPRESSION OF WORSHIP...PUT INTO PRACTICE WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED...TAKE THE MANTLE AND PRAY....

May all of us take the wisdom and examples of our "Elijah's" and practice what we have learned, take the mantle believing in the miracles and pray unceasingly....