I read a wonderful, encouraging Old Testament story today during my time of “Coffee with the Lord!”
The king of Aram had been at war with Israel. Time and again he had attempted to attack God’s people. Elisha, the prophet, had supernaturally informed Israel’s king about these planned attacks in specific terms and thus they had been able to avoid them. The report of this had come to the king of Aram. As a result, he decided to lay siege to the city where Elisha lived and capture him. Elisha’s servant got up one morning and there they were … an huge army with horses and chariots surrounding the city!
He panicked with fear and cried out, “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?!”
“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet calmly answered, “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them!” And then Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened his servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6.8-17 NIV)
Some of you today – my “Coffee with the Lord” friends – are facing frightening, in fact terrifying challenges today! It seems like “the enemy” has surrounded you and is laying siege to you! You don’t know what to do or where to turn for help. You’re living on the edge of panic!
My prayer today? “Oh Lord, open their eyes! Help them to see what is unseen to their physical eyes, but real to spiritual eyes, opened by God! Help them to see that ‘Greater is He that is in them, than he that is in the world!’ (1 John 4.4) and ‘If God is for us, who can be against us?! … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us!’” (Romans 8:31-32, 37).
Yes, that’s my prayer… “Lord, open my eyes!” And when I’m about to panic about a situation in my life, may I hear the sweet whisper of my Intercessor, “OPEN HIS EYES!”