” Leading on Empty

CAUGHT IN THE vise of depressive feelings, Elijah felt like the loneliest man in the world…

“So he said, ‘I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life” (1 Kings 19:14).

Depressed, and desiring nothing more than a quick exit from life, Elijah somehow imagined he was the last godly man on the planet. He felt as if he had no support–even though he had just been part of a fantastic miracle and gained the rousing support of God’s people. He had allowed one evil woman to fill up his whole radar screen and ruin his outlook. But then God shared some information that must have stunned the melancholy prophet:

“Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him” (1 Kings 19:18).

God was saying, “I have 7,000 on your side, and you’re letting one person sound like a million.” Wayne Cordeiro, “Early Warning Signs,” Leading on Empty, 62-63

THOUGHT: Elijah wasn’t alone, but that’s how he felt. Discouragement distorted his view of reality and he lost perspective. Are you discouraged? You probably need a renewed outlook. All of us get discouraged, feel overwhelmed weary at some juncture in our lives. Jesus says, “You’re not alone…”

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Mike Benson

A MAN WENT on Safari in an exotic country, hiring some local guides to manage his procession…

Because he had arrived late, he was already three days behind schedule, and the original safari had left without him. So the hired men sprinted to catch up.

After the first day of running in the jungle heat, the men fell exhausted at the evening campfire. Early the next morning, the visitor blew his whistle: “Come on! Let’s go! Let’s catch that safari!” The men jumped up, strapped on the bags, and started running.

Long after the sun had set, they finally stopped, once again falling in sheer exhaustion. The foreigner was well-pleased, saying, “If we keep up this pace, we may catch the others!” So the next morning, they got up in a hurry and ran again — all day long.

On the fourth day, the eager visitor sprung to his feet and exclaimed, “Today we shall surely catch them! Let’s go!”

But the hired men just sat around the dying fire, poking the embers with sticks. “Get moving right now!” urged the man.

The leader of the men replied, “We’re not moving.”

Indignant, the foreigner insisted, “I paid you to help me catch up with the safari!”

“Sir,” said the leader with a firm calmness, “we are not going to move all day. You have pushed us so hard these first three days. Now we will have to wait a whole day . . . to let our souls catch up!”

Lead out of rest and allow your soul to catch up with you. Only then will you be able to put your heart into everything God asks of you. Without rest, you are leading on empty. Wayne Cordeiro, “Seven Lessons Hard Learned,” Leading on Empty, 127-128

Mike Benson

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You probably need a renewed outlook.

Lead out of rest and allow your soul to catch up with you.