June 17 – Even If It Takes Seven Times

Hope for Today: A Daily Devotion from Reasons for Hope*Jesus

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“And said to his servant, ‘Go up now, look toward the sea.’ So he went up and looked, and said, ‘There is nothing.’ And seven times he said, ‘Go again.'” 1 Kings 18:43

Six times Elijah’s servant looked toward the sea before he could see anything. The seventh time he saw a cloud — but no bigger than his hand. Yet that cloud, within a few hours, covered the Heaven with darkness and the earth with rain.

In like manner may a Christian suppliant be compelled to tarry long for the Divine answer. “Give me,” he may often say, “at least, some springs of water — some feeling, some sorrow for my sins.” Well, though at the sixth time of your bending the knees, God should not grant your request, and though at the seventh time there appears but one small drop swimming in your eyes, be not discouraged. That drop may prove a shower. The beginning of that may, at last, dissolve your whole heart to water. And, as there is a full joy for the thorough conversion of a sinner, there may lie a suitable measure of joy for one tear, nay, for one desire of a tear, of any one sinner who repents.

Pray much for others.
Look toward the sea and pray for those sailing on its bosom.
Look toward the land and pray for those crossing it to a better country.

Intercessory prayer is often a source of great blessing to us. God turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends.

Devotion by Karl Heinrich von Bogatzky (1690—1774)