Daily Devotional
Are You Wallowing in Self-Pity?
“But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, ‘It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!’”
1 Kings 19:4
December 9, 2021
Ponder This
Elijah had taken his eyes off the Lord. He said, “I’m no better than other people.” Somehow, evidently, he had thought for a while that he was better than other people. It seems he believed he would be immune from difficulty and persecution. As a result of these wrong expectations, he drank from the intoxicating cup of self-pity. Jezebel had just made a promise to him. Jezebel was a wicked queen of Israel who was married to the wicked king Ahab. Jezebel had determined to behead Elijah. In this moment, he was on the run expecting the worst.
We may question if Elijah really wanted to die. Had he really been set on ending his life, all that he needed to do was stay near Jezebel and let her fulfill her threat against him. Whatever his true intention, we see that he was wallowing in self-pity. What Elijah needed at that moment was not encouragement in himself or his situation, but encouragement and trust in the Lord.
- What connection is there in your life between self-pity and losing focus on the Lord?
- In what area do you need a reminder of who God is?
Practice This
Go for a prayer walk today. Focus on ways you can praise the Lord. Seek to pour out worship to Him without making requests during this time.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
