In the past couple of weeks, I have felt like Elijah in 1Kings 19. If you’re familiar with the story, you know that the Prophet of God was on the run from Jezebel and found himself in the wilderness asking for the Lord to take his life. Who would’ve thought that a prophet like Elijah who had just called on God to rain down fire from heaven, and had just executed the prophets of Baal would be afraid of mere Jezebel? Elijah, like most of us in this season, was weary and felt like he couldn’t go on.
I also, have been weary, and my heart has been weak and tired. I have wrestled with thoughts and emotions, and although my reasons for being weary are very different from Elijah’s, it doesn’t negate the fact that it’s happened to me.
You see, there’s a stirring happening in the spirit. There’s a fresh outpouring of the spirit of God in this season, and He is preparing the hearts of many for the revival. He is doing a quick work of pruning and refining and although it’s a tough process, it is necessary for this season. God is tearing away a lot of things that we’ve taken pride in that’s not Him and turning hearts back to Him. And I know it might look like the kingdom of darkness is prevailing, (much like Elijah felt like Jezebel would get him) but we know who the victory belongs to. No one, not even the devil himself can stop what God is about to do in the earth. Hallelujah!
Today marks the beginning of Lent, and we want to encourage people to take up something this year. A lot of us have given up so many things over the past few years and it has done a number on us, and on our hearts. What we really need in this season is to feed our minds and hearts with God’s word and to PRAY! We need to become men and women of prayer, and the word; not a watered-down version of God’s word, but the truth of it.
Let us remind ourselves of who we are in Christ. Let us remind ourselves of what we’ve been called to do, and whom our strength comes from.
Just as the angel appeared to Elijah while he was in sleeping the wilderness and told him to arise and eat, so is the Lord telling us in these days. We need to get up and eat. We need to arise and pray; to intensify our prayer lives. We need to strengthen our inner self, for the journey ahead is far too great for us.
I’m reminded of something the Lord said to me a few days ago while I was driving. He said - it’s time to return to your prayer rooms. This is a time where intercessors are desperately needed. People who with their sweat and blood pray down the kingdom of God. The world is too dark right now for us to be playing church, or to be playing games with God.
Where are the Intercessors of this generation? The Lord is calling on us to return to the prayer room.
A lot of people are weary, and tired but God has told us to be aware. He has said that these things would happen, but he has also told us to pray. He has also told us that he is with us. It’s not for us to lose faith. He is beckoning on us to arise and eat!
Yes, we have given up a lot over the past two years, but have we given up God too? Have we given up our faith in God? Have we given up prayer and the word? The very things that keep us stable in these turbulent times. It is time to return! Return to God!
Pursue Him like never before. Go after Him like never before. This is a time for a fresh outpouring of God’s spirit. A move of God like never before. Are we going to prepare ourselves for it? Or are we going to miss out on it?
*Esther Olatunji is the Office Administrator at The Bridge Church. She also publishes monthly reflections and exhortations on her personal blog which you can read at alifeofsolace.com