“And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.” 2 Kings 4:7 The woman in the above story was a widow who fell into financial trouble after her husband’s passing. When Elisha passes by, she calls out to him that her husband is dead, and that he was a good man, but he was in debt. Furthermore, the men he owed were currently on their way to collect by taking her children as slaves. I can only imagine the fear and panic she felt knowing she had nothing to offer them, and the possibility she would never see her children again. Elisha gives her clear instructions. The woman has a little oil in her house, so he tells her to borrow jugs and bowls from her neighbors, and not only a few, but as many as she can get. When she returns home, she…

“This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.” Habakkuk 2:3 When I read this scripture, I automatically thought, “isn’t that so like the Lord?” He sees the end from the beginning and knows all things. He always provides what we need, sometimes long before we need it. He places little blessings and words into our lives, and while we may not understand them at the time, they always have a purpose. He is not slack concerning His promises and is always working on your behalf. Even if it seems impossible or like it will never come to pass, it will. His word never returns void; He does all things well. Look for the God in the small things today and trust that He is working it all out for your good! Devotion by Caitlin Walker

“Good understanding giveth favour: But the way of transgressors is hard.” (Proverbs 13:15, KJV) This verse has had a strong impact on me throughout my life, having been raised in church. I never wanted to find myself away from God as an unfaithful one: a transgressor. Twenty-three years ago, our son, a licensed minister, decided he was done with how he was raised. Our world and family were suddenly and drastically changed, but not for the better. God’s mighty hand is always at work. We see it today, though we could not see it then. God Himself faithfully ministered to us for the next twelve years. All things were working for good. When God’s covenant children walk away from Him, He doesn’t walk away from them. The way of the transgressor is hard, yet we have the sure promises of God that He will never leave nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 3:18, Hebrews 13:5). We were challenged at times to believe that God was with our son in his rebellion; however, God’s Word cannot lie. (Read Numbers 23:19, I Samuel 15:29, Hebrews 6:18.) We chose to trust and believe in God’s faithfulness that wherever he was, God was with him, loving…

A flock of sheep stood grazing in a green pasture as a gentle brook burbled nearby. One hundred sheep, to be exact. As the Good Shepherd inspected His herd, He noticed one was missing. He called its name time and again, but no sheep. He looked this way and that, but still no sheep. That sheep was precious to Him. It was worth the price of His own life. He left the ninety and nine in search of the lost sheep. Up mountains, through valleys, there was nowhere He would not go to return the lost sheep to the fold. The sheep had been drawn away by the “lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eye, and the pride of life” (I John 2:16). It had been deceived and enticed. It had possibly been hurt by another sheep in the fold. Whatever the reason for its wandering, the Good Shepherd wanted His sheep returned. He called the sheep by name and did all He could to draw it back. He did not care what condition the sheep was now in after its wandering. If the sheep was found, He would rejoice, He and all His friends. He would…