What are you doing here? -God

Have you ever reached a place in life when you wondered how you got there? The chain reaction of decisions that led us down the various paths of life can be hard to understand in hindsight. Even if we could detail out what led us to the place we find ourselves, it is often unfruitful to dwell on the past. Sometimes we want to blame God for "allowing" us to make poor decisions. Sometimes we even believe God dragged us into the mire we're in.

I'm still thinking about Elijah and his escape to the cave. Even after God fed him via the creative use of ravens, Elijah heads off on a forty day trek. When he gets to the cave he hears God ask, "What are you doing here?" That is SO funny if you think about it. It's so like God to get right to the point. The thought came to me that God could've spoke to Elijah when in route. Say, third or fifteenth day in, "Where are you going, Elijah?" But NO, God allows Elijah to wander towards his destination and waste forty days doing so, only to hear God ask him why he's even there.

I don't want to wander one day in my life. I don't ever want to reach a place where God asks me what I'm doing. I don't ever want to be in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong people, or busy at the wrong things. I especially need to be on guard in the midst of or just following a huge victory. Life is too short and God has so much more for me that I should worry about what an ungodly queen might do to me. So, here's to calling down fire, killing prophets and out running chariots - sure beats a forty day pity walk any day.

The cave of self-pity

There's an old saying, "Watch out when you think you're riding high on the hog, next thing you know you'll be laying in the pig pen". I'm always mindful that success doesn't breed success. Most of us can attest that we have had incredible mountain top moments in life only to find ourselves in the valley soon afterward. It is only as we stay connected to the Lord and His divine plan that we can expect to see His hand in operation in our lives. There is no one who is not susceptible to feelings of abandonment; feelings of purposelessness.

Elijah was arguably one of the greatest of biblical prophets. He is remembered this day for calling fire down on the sacrifice at Mt. Carmel. He put to death all the prophets of Baal, prayed for and received rain, out ran a chariot (busy day). Then he hears a rumor of Queen jezebel's anger and determination to kill him. What does he do? Does he call Israel to the big showdown? Does he head to the palace to show here what's what? No. He runs and hides in a cave and must hear the Lord ask, "What are you doing here?"

It's a funny question you must admit. God knew what Elijah was doing there - He knows every man's heart. He wanted Elijah to consider it. He put to death 450 men, but feared the wrath of one woman.

Before we throw Elijah under the bus, let's look at ourselves. How much whining do we do? How much cave time have we had lately? How often do we go from overcomer to overcome? Do not lose heart. Keep His desire and passion before you. Keep calling down fire, praying for change and out running chariots. As we do these things we will keep ourselves from the cave of self-pity.