GOD GUIDES AND PROVIDES

In a time of economic famine, Elijah obeyed God and went where He directed. In the

natural, it was a place where it would be hard to survive. But look what happened: "So

he went and did according unto the word of the Lord: for he went and dwelt by the brook

Cherith, that is before Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the

morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook" (1 Kings 17:5-

6).

In Bible times, ravens were regarded as omens of misfortune, death, or tragedy and were

considered unclean because of their scavenger habits. God chose unclean birds to feed

His prophet! God will provide for you, but it may not be according to your preconceived

ideas. Sometimes God provides through natural means and at other times through the

supernatural, but you can be assured that A... God shall supply all your need according to

his riches in glory by Christ Jesus@ (Philippians 4:19).

Elijah had been in seclusion for some time by Brook Cherith when the Word of the Lord

came to him saying, AArise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell

there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee@ (1 Kings 17:9).

Elijah had already learned one of the key principles of financial provision: To be in God=s

place at God=s time. So at the Word of the Lord, Elijah departed from Cherith and went

to Zarephath:

So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city,

behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and

said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. And as she

was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of

bread in thine hand. And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake,

but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am

gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may

eat it, and die. And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said:

but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for

thee and for thy son. For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal

shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord

sendeth rain upon the earth. And she went and did according to the saying of

Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal

wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord,

which he spake by Elijah. (1 Kings 17:9-16)

When you face a financial crisis, it is crucial for you to be able to hear the Word of the

Lord concerning your circumstances and to act in obedience upon what He directs you to

do. When God directed Elijah to go to Cherith, he went. When God told Elijah to leave

Cherith and go to Zarepath, he immediately started on his way. You must be able to

discern God's direction during difficult times and when you hear His voice, you must

respond in obedience. Where God guides, He provides.

PRAYER:

My FATHER, My God, this year let my life reflect the blessing of the Lord, I shall not be static, I decree PROGRESS, FAVOR, HONOR, AND INFLUENCE are my portion. My life is SALTED, My speech is SALTED, My Home and Business are SALTED in the name of Jesus.