When The Brook Dries Up, It's Time to Move On

After the prophet Elijah stopped the rain in Israel, God told him to go to the Brook Cherith where ravens would bring him bread and meat. After a while the brook dried up. Then God told him, “Go to Zarephath …I have commanded a widow there to provide for you" (1 Kings 17:1-9).

The Lord didn’t speak to him about moving to another place until after the brook quit flowing. God let it dry up so Elijah would know it was time to move on. Staying there was no longer an option. The dry creek was a closed door that sent him to a new place.

What does a dry brook look like today? It might be losing your job, a source of provision that stops, or closed doors that won’t open. It becomes obvious that what you need will be found somewhere else.

Elijah obeyed and went to Zarephath. Previously God commanded ravens to bring him food, but now He commanded a poor widow to provide for him. Even though she didn’t seem aware that God commanded her to feed him, she gave Elijah her last meal. This proves God can command people to do things for you, even when they aren’t aware of obeying Him.

If your brook has dried up, you probably need to move on. But don’t take one step until you ask God where that next place is. God says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you” (Psalm 32:8). www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net

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BIBLE STUDY: How Did Jonah Stay Alive Inside a Whale for Three Days?

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

The Unbaptized Arm

Ivan the Great, the tsar of Russia during the fifteen century, converted to Greek Orthodox to marry the daughter of the king of Greece. Ivan said, “If I’m going to convert, so will my soldiers.” The Greeks sent tutors to teach Ivan and 500 elite soldiers about being Greek Orthodox, and assigned 500 priests to immerse the soldiers in one mass baptism.

Thousands of people gathered to watch hundreds of soldiers in full armor, along with hundreds of priests dressed in black robes and tall hats, all standing in the Mediterranean Sea.

But there was a problem. The church prohibited soldiers from becoming church members unless they gave up their commitment to shed blood in battle. They came up with a solution where they could become church members and keep their military commitment. 

Just before the priests baptized the soldiers, each man reached to his side, withdrew his sword, and lifted it high overhead. Each soldier was totally immersed underwater—except for his fighting arm and sword. The soldiers became church members but could still fight in wars because they all had “unbaptized arms.”

Compromising is when we ignore God’s standards to get something we want. We see it all the time, especially when it comes to sexual purity. Paul writes, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality” (1 Thess. 4:3). Jesus said, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). When Jesus becomes the Lord of your life, you’ll do what He says. Is any part of you unbaptized? www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net

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BIBLE STUDY: Are There Degrees of Sin?

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

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Insights Into God's Guidance

God told Samuel, “I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons” (1 Sam. 16:1). When Jesse’s sons came before him, Samuel looked at Eliab and assumed he was the chosen one. Samuel could have made a big mistake here because apparently Eliab looked like a king. God told Samuel Eliab wasn’t the one. After Samuel saw all seven, he said, “The Lord has not chosen these” (16:10).

Samuel couldn’t figure out what was wrong. Since none of the seven were the king, it must mean another son was somewhere else. It’s interesting that God didn’t tell Samuel this. He had to figure it out himself. Samuel asked, “Are these all your children?” Jesse told him the youngest was tending sheep. When David was brought to him the Lord said, “Anoint him, for this is he” (v.12).

What can we learn from this? The Lord gave Samuel instructions, but He didn’t tell him everything. God could have told Samuel at the beginning to anoint the youngest son, David. But Samuel had to go through the process of elimination. It’s like dating seven people and eliminating them before you find the right spouse. Some people choose to marry someone because they “look good,” just like Samuel almost chose Eliab for this reason. We find out later that Eliab was afraid to fight Goliath (17:28). But David wasn’t afraid, which is why God chose him as king.

Many times God will tell you to do something, such as accept a job in a different city. But He won’t tell you everything about the situation. He will give you further instructions after you’ve obeyed what He has already told you to do. God will lead you to Point A, and after you’ve done that, He will take you to Point B.

Are you obeying what He has already told you? If God has spoken to you, it will come to pass, but it may not happen until later. Even though Samuel anointed David as king, it wasn’t until years later that David actually became the king of Israel (1 Chron. 11:9). www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net

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BIBLE STUDY: Did Two Different People Write the Book of Isaiah?

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

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If Your Bush Burns Out, God Isn't In It

Moses led his flock into the wilderness when he saw something weird—a burning bush that wasn’t consumed. The bush didn’t burn out because God was in it.

A voice called out from the bush saying, “Moses, Moses . . . remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. . . I am the God of your father.” (Ex. 3:4-6). Remember, this happened before the tabernacle and temple were built to worship God. Moses was only standing on dirt, but it was holy ground because he was in the presence of a holy God.

The Lord spoke through a burning bush to prove to Moses three things:

First, He knew exactly where Moses was, even in the back side of a desert.

Second, He called Moses by name, proving He knew all about him.

Third, the bush didn’t burn out, showing He had endless energy. 

Then God gave him an assignment. “I will send you to Pharaoh so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt (3:10). Moses started making excuses, saying that he wasn’t capable of doing it. The Lord assured him, “Certainly I will be with you” (Ex. 3:12). When God calls you to do something, He goes with you and gives you the ability to accomplish it.

People burn out because they’re doing tasks that God never called them to do, or they’re doing them in their own strength. Moses’ bush never burned out. And your bush won’t burn out either, if God is in it.   www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net

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BIBLE PROPHECY: The New Jerusalem and the New Earth

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

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What Are the People Like in Your Town?

A man pulled up to a gas station and told the attendant, “I’m thinking about moving here. What are the people like in this town?” The attendant said, “What are the people like in the town you came from?” 

“I can’t stand living in that town,” the driver snapped. “All the people are unfriendly. No one cares about me. I can’t wait to move away from there.”

Attendant replied, “I think you’ll find the people in this town are like that too.”

“That’s what I thought!” he said in disgust as he drove off.

A few minutes later another man pulled into the gas station. “I’m thinking about moving here,” he said. "What are the people like in this town?” The attendant said, “What are the people like in the town you came from?” 

“I love living in that town but I have to relocate due to my job. I’m going to miss everything about that town. They are the friendliest people I’ve ever known.”

Attendant replied, “I think you’ll find the people in this town are like that too.”

The man smiled and said, “That’s what I thought!”

The people in the town you move to will be just like the people in the town you left. Why? Because the way you choose to see the world creates the world you see. Perspective isn’t what you see, but how you see it. Paul prayed that “the eyes of your heart may be enlightened” (Eph. 1:18). Yes, your heart can see. Your eyes and heart work together to form your perspective. We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.

So if you can’t stand the people in your town (or your job), it’s because you choose to look for the worst in everyone. But if you’ll let God enlighten your heart, your eyes will be opened to see the best in your situation and in others. What are the people like in your town? www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

How to Not Be Worried and Bothered

When Jesus and His disciples show up at Martha’s house, she welcomes them in. Jesus goes into the other room and starts teaching, but Martha rushes into the kitchen and starts preparing a meal for the crew. It bothers her that her sister Mary hasn’t lifted one finger to help. Instead, Mary followed Jesus to the other room to listen to Him. 

God in a human body is sitting in her home, revealing truths about how to live stress-free life. Mary is listening and taking notes, but Martha is too busy to listen. It wouldn't surprise me if His sermon was on "How to Not Be Worried and Bothered." 

Martha stomps into the room and interrupts the Bible study. With hands on her hips, she commands Jesus to do something about lazy Mary. “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me” (Luke 10:40).

Martha expects to hear Him reply, “Do you guys remember my teachings on serving others? Take a look at my servant, Martha. So humble. So dedicated. Mary, you could learn a few things from her. Now get up and go help her with dinner!”

Instead Jesus says, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part" (Luke 10:41-42). Martha was stressed-out about “so many things.” She worried about every bad thing that might happen. She was continually bothered by little things, and people on her nerves. As a result, she wasn't enjoying life.

Jesus said, “Mary has chosen the good part.” What did she choose? She chose to hear Jesus speak to her heart. Jesus said, “Learn from me …and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:28). Listen to what Jesus tells you and learn from Him. It’s the one thing that’s necessary. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

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Patience Makes Life Easier

Mike Bechtle says, “People can’t drive you crazy if you don’t give them the keys.” Do you know anyone who drives you crazy? If you do, it means you gave them the keys—and you need patience. A husband told his wife, “You are so impatient. It just drives me crazy when you’re impatient!” So was it the wife or the husband who was the most impatient?

The Greek word for patience is makrothumia and means “self-restraint when provoked.” Did you know that God is patient toward you? (2 Peter 3:9). Have you ever thought that God has to put up with our complaining, our worry, and all the dumb decisions we make? He patiently waits for our hearts to change.

The Lord can develop patience in your life as you yield to the Holy Spirit because it’s a fruit of the Spirit. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience (makrothumia)…” (Gal. 5:22). When the Holy Spirit develops patience in your heart, people won’t drive you crazy anymore. You’ll actually feel compassion for them. 

Once you acquire patience, life becomes easier because things no longer bother you. Think about it. How much would you pay to have the ability to go through life and nobody ever upsets you? You would always have peace in your heart, no matter what happens. People would pay thousands of dollars for that kind of attitude. That’s what patience is. And that’s what God is trying to develop in you. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net

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Receive these devotionals (free) by email: You can subscribe in the box on the right at www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com (Your email will not be given out. You’ll receive an email when the new devotional is posted)

Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com