Fast Day 15: Who Will You Become (Part 1)

2 Kings 2:8-15 (NKJV)

Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground. And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?”

Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”

So when he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”

Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “my father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan.

Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” And then he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.

Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him.

 

Elisha studies Elijah by following him and being around him. Elisha even asked Elijah for a “double portion of his spirit” before Elijah ascended to Heaven. Elisha created his opportunity to learn how Elijah led others by following God. Strong leaders are able to predict exactly where they will be and who they will be in five years based on a few of your daily habits: they people they associate with, the books or materials they are currently reading and who they are following.

 

Take a close look at the relationships in your life. Have you surrounded yourself with people who are full of wisdom or people who are “naysayers”, who are not experts in anything? Like Elisha, you must create opportunities to follow leaders and build relationships with those who will speak wisdom into your life and lead you. When you are in God’s will, making a life change, such as a job or relationship, to follow the leader that you will learn from and who will speak into your life (or like Elijah, give a “double portion”) may be difficult at first, sometimes even financially risky, but God will provide. Consider the material you read on a daily basis; is it enhancing your future or wasting time in the moment? Are your habits bettering your relationships with others as well as your relationship with God?

 

Describe the type of leader you will strive to follow and gain wisdom from this year? What will you need to do to surround yourself with positive role models? What are you currently reading; or better yet, what books do you have stacked up on your nightstand that you have yet to get to? Where will you start? And finally, where do you see yourself in five years as compared to now? Respond in the comments below.

 

We recommend you keep a journal of your personal responses to questions posed in each of the daily devotionals so you can meditate not only during the first 21 days during your prayer time, but you can reflect throughout the entire year to be able to see how God has really moved on your behalf in 2016 and you have record of your testimony.