Before Whose Presence I Stand

1 Kings 18:1 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.

There are plenty of people who are more than willing to go show themselves and be the featured speaker at the conference, or the solo singer at the songfest. Of course you've seen them, they love to be seen! They have found the "in crowd" and everyone is waiting to hear them on the greatest night of the conference. Sure, Elijah was preaching before the king. But he had much rather be somewhere else, ................... such as standing before the King of kings!

1 Kings 18:15 And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.

The proper order is found, naturally enough, not in the books of leadership and the art of war but simply in the previous chapter to the one above.

1 Kings 17:3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

Until you "hide yourself" you are not ready to "show thyself". Until your service is a pouring forth of a life of solitude, a life formed in the secret place of the Most High, you will never stand on God's stage. You may live to see your own "kingdom" but make no mistake, you will never "see" God's Kingdom! How many do you know that have been "spotlighted" because of some talent or ability? Many! How many have been "hidden"? Very few indeed! So if your life seems to go un-noticed and unappreciated, don't worry you are in the proper order and your day will come.

Your Friend
The Raven

Evermore

Ah distinctly I recall

When the rains would not fall

And the fields grew dry

From a scorching summer sun.

God's wrath waxed keen

Before the wicked queen

And righteous men were scarce

As coins in a beggar's cup.

Safe from the wrath

Following Cherith's path

The prophet fared on bread

Each and every day.

It was a miraculous thing

Borne on the raven's wing

And Elijah drank freely

From the bubbling brook.

How long would it last

This royal repast?

The raven's croak declared

Ever more! Ever more!

You've been there and so have I

When hope within seems to die.

Only to feel God's loving hand

And once again you live.

So, how long will He guide

Through life's heavy tide?

Just listen to the raven,

Evermore! Evermore!