Practical Instruction ...

About a month ago in my devotions, I was reading 1 Kings 13.  It is the very perplexing passage about the man of God that is sent with a message to the King and is instructed by God in v 9: For so it was commanded me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘You shall not eat bread, nor drink water, nor return by the same way you came.’”

Then later in this passage, he encounters a false prophet that tells him that God told him to invite him in to eat and drink.  His guard is down, he does and … it is his demise.  If you haven't read it ... check it out ...

It is a very hard passage to read and at the time of my devotion, I was debating between pushing hard to go to the February trip or waiting for the April trip as my boss had suggested would be better.  At that time, the Lord used this passage to remind me to only listen to His instruction and to pursue the February trip.

Well, I was just talking with my mom about the trip to Haiti and sharing that I have an appointment next week at passport health to get vaccinations and orientation.  As I talked with her, she mentioned “The greatest risk in Haiti is food and water contamination.” … not anything new to any of us.  To this I replied: “Yes, but the base where we're staying is safe and we are instructed to not drink or eat outside of there.”.  The moment I said that, the Lord reminded me of this passage in 1 Kings 13!  How so very practical and specific!!!!  A warning to not eat or drink on the way for danger of death!!!!  God is so kind and merciful!

I know in times past, when I have purposed in my heart to fast, I have failed and eaten something simply because I have forgotten that I was fasting and ate when food was presented to me at work in a casual way by a friend, not because I was starving and fell prey to temptation.  At that time, the Lord reminded me that I could only fast in His strength.  I believe the Lord re-iterated this to my heart now with this passage to show how I need His strength and the power of the Holy Spirit even for something so simple and practical as only eating and drinking the water that is safe, along with a strong warning of genuine danger if I do not obey.