For thus the says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar shall not be spent, and the jug of oil should not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’ And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. – 1 Kings 17:14-15

Read 1 Kings 17:8-16

In times like this, it is easy to only think about self. However, as believers this is a great opportunity to minister to others. The apostle Paul wrote, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4). This is a great opportunity to put this verse into practice. Have your neighbors run out of something that you are able to share with them? As believers we should never stop considering other people. These are challenging times for many, but as believers, it is an opportunity to show the love of Christ through actions. This widow [in 1 Kings that Elijah had asked for water and bread during a famine] could have easily told Elijah, “I do not have enough supplies to help you. I just have enough for my son and me.” She believed what Elijah told her regarding the God of Israel, consequently God provided for her. We must trust when we help others God will provide for us as well. We must make the most of every opportunity that we are given. Many times the only Jesus people can see in the storm are your actions as you minister.

Thoughts to Ponder
Do you trust the Lord enough that he will provide for you in these times?
What are some ways that you can minister to others during this time?
Pray and Ask God to show you where you can minister. Ask him to reveal needs.

Written by Mike Molina, Assistant Director of Foster Care, Maricopa County