Praying In Anguish

Praying In Anguish by Kirk Hunt

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish.

1 Samuel 1:10 NKJV

Hannah appeared before the altar and poured her heart out before God. No lyrical or poetic phrases were spoken. Not one theological utterance, elegant or otherwise, came out. Hannah prayed and wept in anguish.

Hannah’s heart gushes out raw, unfiltered grief and sorrow. To the untrained eye, Hannah’s heart-cry looks like drunkenness. Even Eli, the High Priest, assumes she is under the influence.

Despite her hurt and pain, Hannah chooses carefully and wisely. She appears before God. She tells Him all that is on her heart.

Never think God does not see you and your situation. Always remember that He cares for you and yours. Know that He will move, in His timing, in your situation.

Hannah’s appeal to God draws a response. The prophet Samuel is the first of Hannah’s six children. God replaced her season of lack and sorrow with a season of plenty and joy.

No matter how deep your hurt or anguish, you can choose your response. Appear before God. Tell Him about it all.

He understands tears and sobs. He sees the pain and sorrow that you keep hidden from everyone else. He will respond to you.

Hannah eventually wrote a song of praise to God for His answer to her heart-cry. Father-God has an answer that will make your heart sing. Are you willing to tell Him all about it?

Think: No matter how much I hurt, God cares and He will respond.

Pray: “Lord, I am here. Please, hear my prayer.”

 

Copyright © October 2019, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press. You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

They Cried Aloud

They Cried Aloud By Kirk Hunt

So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.

1 Kings 18:28–29 NKJV
Please also read 1 Kings 18:18–30

The prophets of Ba’al did not stand a chance. They cried out to a lifeless idol. Their numbers, hysteria and blood-letting did not add to the chance of Ba’al appearing or answering. Instead, they received what a block of wood (or stone, or metal) could give: silence.

Who (or what) do you cry out to? Do you appeal to financial resources or political power when you need an answer? Do you appeal to aspects of a bygone era for a solution? Are you getting a response?

God’s people should cry out to God, not for financial resources. We should always make our first and only appeal to our Savior, Jesus Christ, not the ballot box. We should always cry out for His truth and righteousness, not our flawed memory or slanted histories of years past.

I guarantee He will respond. We may not immediately like His answers, but they are the loving responses of our faithful Father-God. Father-God is always listening for our voices. Are you listening to His voice?

Think: I do not appeal to heaven or elsewhere. I appeal to Father-God and His Son, Jesus.

Pray: “Lord, I cry out to You for Your help and salvation.”

 

Copyright © November 2017, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press. You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

Call On The Name

Call On The Name By Kirk Hunt

“Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” So all the people answered and said, “It is well spoken.”

1 Kings 18:24 NKJV
Please also read 1 Kings 18:18–24

How would you confront a murderous pagan heresy and wrestle your nation back to true and devout worship? With political maneuvering and power? Through economic dominance and manipulation? Elijah, a true and faithful prophet of God, chose to call on the Name of God.

Elijah did not seek a palace coup. Scripture does not record that he organized nationwide political or economic movements. Instead, alone and outnumbered, Elijah chose to call on the Name of God.

Too often it appears that God’s people confuse good human stewardship with God’s power. I encourage you to righteously and wisely gather, husband and make use of resources. Still, whatever financial, social or political assets come into your hands may be God’s provision, but they are not God’s power. God is infinitely bigger than anything mere men and women can control or manipulate.

Faith takes action. Choosing to appear before Ahab was an act of obedience. Calling for the showdown with the prophets of Baal was an act of faith in God’s guidance. Elijah placed himself in a situation far beyond any human means of rescue or retreat. God’s prophet was confident in God’s power and sovereignty.

Does God enjoy your trust and confidence? Are you willing to be His agent and instrument in this modern age? Call on the Name of God, then work and act in true belief and complete confidence in His power.

Think: We conquer the nations for God’s Kingdom through the Name and power of God.

Pray: “Lord, help me to daily work in obedience, belief, and faith in Your great Name.”

 

Copyright © October 2017, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press. You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

He Cried Out

He Cried Out By Kirk Hunt

And he said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him out of her arms and carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. Then he cried out to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?”

1 Kings 17:19-20 NKJV
Please read 1 Kings 17:14-21

 

She confronted him with the boy’s cold, limp body. Elijah took the boy’s body from his mother and went to the presence of God. Alone with all-powerful Jehovah, Elijah used the only tool available to him: He cried out.

 

Elijah did not understand any more than the widow. He had no more power over the situation than the grieving mother. All he could do is ask God for His intervention. And he did so with force and abandon.

 

The facts are what they are, even to God’s people. No amount of wishful thinking or force of personality will change the laws of nature. No matter the circumstances, we can appeal to our heavenly Father.

 

God always answers prayer. He loves us enough to say “no” when we ask for the wrong things. He loves us enough to say “wait” when the circumstances are difficult to us. He loves us enough to comfort us through whatever we are experiencing.

 

His power is absolute. His will is sovereign. His love for you is constant and unending. Cry out to Him, wherever you are.

 

Think: I can appeal to God in every circumstance.

 

Pray: “Lord, I cry out to you because You have the power.”

 

Copyright © April 2017, Kirk Hunt

 

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press. You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

More To Finish The Job

More To Finish The Job By Kirk Hunt

Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’”

1 Kings 18:44 NKJV
(Please also read 1 Kings 18:41–46.)

 

Elijah’s victory on Mount Carmel was incomplete. God caused the drought because of Israel’s disobedience. The nation repented and returned to God. Since God is faithful to His promises, the drought had to end to finish the job of restoration.

 

Quietly and alone, Elijah prayed for rain. Elijah’s assistant ran back and forth, looking for an answer to the prophet’s prayer. Finally, a single, small cloud became visible.

 

The big, flashy event is (probably) important. Still, more is usually needed to finish the job. Follow-up, and follow-through, are often the hidden key(s) to success for the Kingdom.

 

Elijah knew that God’s answer by fire did not finish the job of restoration of Israel. God’s people were humbled by years of drought, famine and the decimation of the Ba’al cult. Israel’s repentance needed to be answered with restoration of the rains and fertile fields.

 

Your victory was a lot of work. You are rightfully tired and worn. Do not stop now. Finish the job God assigned you.

 

Think: After the big event, finish the job God assigned you.

 

Pray: “Lord, help me to complete Your job, Your way.”

 

Copyright © April 2016, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is a ministry of http://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

Short Prayer, Full Impact

Short Prayer, Full Impact By Kirk Hunt

 

Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”

1 Kings 18:38-39 NKJV
(Please also read 1 Kings 18:30–40.)

 

The water-soaked altar was disintegrated. God’s fire consumed all of the animal sacrifice, stone, wood and water in an instant. The impact of Elijah’s short prayer, asking for God’s power, rocked the entire nation.

 

The prophets of Ba’al had spent hours imploring their pagan superstition. Elijah spent perhaps sixty seconds asking the living God. Without fanfare or furor, God answered Elijah’s simple prayer before all the people of Israel. He re-proved Himself to His chosen people.

 

God responds to the depth, sincerity and earnestness of your faith. Your faith may not be perfect, or without the taint of doubt. Still, He responds to a heart that trusts in Him. God still replies with fire to His sons and daughters who come sincerely to their heavenly Father.

 

You do not need long, complex or eloquent prayers. You only need to know that God answers in strength and power those who love and trust Him. It is just that easy. It is just that simple.

 

Think: God responds to the depth of your faith, not the length of your prayer.

Pray: “Lord, I come to you in faith and trust.”

 

Copyright © April 2016, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is a ministry of http://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

All Noise, No Substance

All Noise, No Substance By Kirk Hunt

 

So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.

 

1 Kings 18:28-29 NKJV

 

For at least 8 hours (morning to noon to evening), the prophets of Ba’al screamed, yelled, leaped, jumped and otherwise made a lot of noise and sweat. They wasted their time and effort. Their invocations had no substance, power or effect in the real world.

 

The prophets of Ba’al failed from the start. They put their faith in dead idols instead of our living God. They literally bled with no chance of impact or effect.

 

High numbers of decibels or attendees do not automatically indicate anything of value. A few men and women, who are determined to make a difference, always have the greater impact. Substance always wins in the end.

 

Unfortunately, building God’s Kingdom, or Godly lives, requires wise and substantial effort. The Grand Canyon did not appear overnight. Doctors, lawyers and engineers study for years before they are competent in their professions.

 

God’s Kingdom, and Godly lives, come through faith in Him, then significant work in the real world. As modern day people of God, make sure that you are acting with substance and significance. Please, generate more for God than noise and sweat.

 

Think: Progress with God and His Kingdom requires acts of substance, not just noise.

 

Pray: “Lord, help me to serve You with acts of substance and significance.”

 

 

Copyright © April 2016, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is a ministry of http://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.