Evening Scripture

1 Kings, Chapter 19

Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.

And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel — all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”

“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”

So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.

Evening Reflection

In 1 Kings 19:11-13, we read about how Elijah experienced wind, an earthquake, and a fire. He expected to hear God in the loud, powerful wind, in the great earthquake, or in the consuming fire. Surprisingly, when God actually shows up and speaks to Elijah, it’s through a gentle whisper.

We are often like Elijah, looking for God to speak to us in a loud and humbling way. But more often He speaks the truth we need into our hearts in those ordinary quiet moments of everyday living. We need to stay alert and keep our hearts open to the Lord’s voice.

The most profound moments of confirmation from the Lord have come for me when I’ve been driving alone in the car, lying down to rest, in dreams, or in quiet moments of worship. These little whispers have anchored me when I’ve felt the call to step forward in faith. Look for God moments in the midst of your routine.

Elijah’s encounter reminds us that we all have unseen moments God calls us to give over to worship Him. Corporate worship is beautiful, but most of our relationship with Jesus is walked out as we serve in our homes and work; it's a personal relationship that we are called to steward. God can talk to us in a crowded church service, and He can also speak to us when we are alone at home cleaning the dishes. His presence is always with us.

As we start and end our day, we can bring what we have to the Lord. We can ask God to guide us through the power of His Holy Spirit. God invites us to do everything for Him, not for man! Be intentional about pursuing and preparing your heart to meet God in life’s quiet moments.

Evening Prayer

Father,

I thank you that you speak to me with a kind and gentle voice. You communicate with me in the quiet, and I love to hear your voice. Continue to guide me. Meet me as I go about my everyday routine. I need your guidance, love, and presence in my life. Allow your guiding Spirit to be my anchor as I step out in faith to serve you. I love you.

Amen.

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Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

Click to Listen to Signs of Life: UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was—and is—an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.

UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

Evening Scripture
1 Kings, Chapter 19
Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, &ldquo;May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.&rdquo; Elijah was afraid&nbsp;and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day&rsquo;s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. &ldquo;I have had enough, Lord,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.&rdquo; Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, &ldquo;Get up and eat.&rdquo; He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, &ldquo;Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.&rdquo; So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.
And the word of the Lord came to him: &ldquo;What are you doing here, Elijah?&rdquo;
He replied, &ldquo;I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.&rdquo;
The Lord said, &ldquo;Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.&rdquo;
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, &ldquo;What are you doing here, Elijah?&rdquo;
He replied, &ldquo;I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.&rdquo;
The Lord said to him, &ldquo;Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel &mdash; all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.&rdquo;
So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. &ldquo;Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and then I will come with you.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Go back,&rdquo; Elijah replied. &ldquo;What have I done to you?&rdquo;
So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.
Evening Reflection
In <a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/1-kings/passage/?q=1%20kings+19:11-13">1 Kings 19:11-13</a>, we read about how Elijah experienced wind, an earthquake, and a fire. He expected to hear God in the loud, powerful wind, in the great earthquake, or in the consuming fire. Surprisingly, when God actually shows up and speaks to Elijah, it&rsquo;s through a gentle whisper.
We are often like Elijah, looking for God to speak to us in a loud and humbling way. But more often He speaks the truth we need into our hearts in those ordinary quiet moments of everyday living. We need to stay alert and keep our hearts open to the Lord&rsquo;s voice.
The most profound moments of confirmation from the Lord have come for me when I&rsquo;ve been driving alone in the car, lying down to rest, in dreams, or in quiet moments of worship. These little whispers have anchored me when I&rsquo;ve felt the call to step forward in faith. Look for God moments in the midst of your routine.
Elijah&rsquo;s encounter reminds us that we all have unseen moments God calls us to give over to worship Him. Corporate worship is beautiful, but most of our relationship with Jesus is walked out as we serve in our homes and work; it's a personal relationship that we are called to steward. God can talk to us in a crowded church service, and He can also speak to us when we are alone at home cleaning the dishes. His presence is always with us.
As we start and end our day, we can bring what we have to the Lord. We can ask God to guide us through the power of His Holy Spirit. God invites us to do everything for Him, not for man! Be intentional about pursuing and preparing your heart to meet God in life&rsquo;s quiet moments.
Evening Prayer
Father,
I thank you that you speak to me with a kind and gentle voice. You communicate with me in the quiet, and I love to hear your voice. Continue to guide me. Meet me as I go about my everyday routine. I need your guidance, love, and presence in my life. Allow your guiding Spirit to be my anchor as I step out in faith to serve you. I love you.
Amen.
Want More?
Sign up for our free newsletter, The Good Word, for weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement delivered right to your inbox. Join our community today: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/</a>&nbsp;
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION&reg;. NIV&reg;. Copyright &copy; 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by <a href="https://www.biblica.com/">Biblica</a>. All rights reserved worldwide.
&nbsp;
Click to Listen to Signs of Life: <a href="https://www.umnews.org/en/news/um-news-podcast-season-one">UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org</a>
Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was&mdash;and is&mdash;an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.
<a href="https://www.umnews.org/en/news/um-news-podcast-season-one">UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org</a>

Your Nightly Scripture — 365-Day Bible Reading Plan for Peaceful Sleep is a calming, Scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end each day with God’s Word. Brought to you by BibleStudyTools.com, this 5-day-a-week Bible reading plan features carefully selected passages from across the Bible, paired with slow, reflective devotionals and gentle evening prayers.

Perfect for bedtime listening, each episode is read at a peaceful pace with natural pauses to create a quiet, meditative experience that helps you rest, reflect, and draw closer to God. From Psalms and Proverbs to the Gospels and beyond, this year-long journey includes special Easter and Christmas readings, guiding you through the story of Scripture with hope, peace, and spiritual renewal.

Want more prayers and practical spiritual tips each week? We're excited to introduce The Good Word, a new way to receive weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement right in your inbox. Join our community today: https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/ 

Your Nightly Scripture &mdash; 365-Day Bible Reading Plan for Peaceful Sleep is a calming, Scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end each day with God&rsquo;s Word. Brought to you by BibleStudyTools.com, this 5-day-a-week Bible reading plan features carefully selected passages from across the Bible, paired with slow, reflective devotionals and gentle evening prayers.
Perfect for bedtime listening, each episode is read at a peaceful pace with natural pauses to create a quiet, meditative experience that helps you rest, reflect, and draw closer to God. From Psalms and Proverbs to the Gospels and beyond, this year-long journey includes special Easter and Christmas readings, guiding you through the story of Scripture with hope, peace, and spiritual renewal.
Want more prayers and practical spiritual tips each week? We're excited to introduce The Good Word, a new way to receive weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement right in your inbox. Join our community today:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/</a>&nbsp;

Your Nightly Scripture

Meeting God in the Quiet Moments (1 Kings 19)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/3eaf8231-5cee-4cb5-a469-b4e900fa3b27/transcript