Faith During Famine

Then spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for the Lord hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years. And the woman arose, and did after the saying of the man of God: and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years. And it came to pass at the seven years' end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry unto the king for her house and for her land. (2 Kings 8:1-3)

God always warns us about the problems and issues that may come our way. In 2 Kings 8:1-3, Elisha alerted the Shunammite woman to an impending famine, providing her with direction from the Lord regarding what to do. This woman had already witnessed God’s power at work when her son was raised from the dead. Instead of doubting, questioning, or resisting God’s instruction, she immediately obeyed what God told her: to move to the land of the Philistines.  It was a strange and uncomfortable direction for her, but obedience to God’s guidance often requires leaving behind what is familiar and stepping out in faith.

One thing is clear from the text: she did not delay at all. The famine lasted in her hometown for seven years, and during that time, she was well provided for. However, after seven years away, she returned to find that her home and land had been taken from her.

Nevertheless, she remembered what God had promised her, and she did not remain silent. She boldly approached the king to reclaim what was rightfully hers.

Not only did the King return her land, but he also restored everything that had accumulated over the seven years. She regained all that she had lost and more. The Shunammite woman’s story serves as a reminder of the power of obedience, faith, and God’s plan for restoration. Even in times of famine, God had a purpose!

Practical Application

The Shunammite woman confidently approached the King's throne, knowing that the good king would restore. You can confidently approach God’s throne, knowing our King’s character. The woman went to the king to make her request known; she did not settle for loss. God delights in restoring what the enemy has taken, but we must come before Him in faith.

2 Kings 8:6; Luke 18:5

Faith Over Fear

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? (Matthew 6:30)

One morning, God told me: “Your money, health, wealth, and your standing are not affected by any election, but rather by your faith in God through His Word. Watch your confession or words in the now and in the future. Don’t be caught up with the affairs of this life. Open your spiritual rather than your natural eyes, for it is God’s anointing that breaks every yoke of bondage.” The Lord’s message is clear: Watch your confession. What we speak must align with what we believe. If we confess fear, lack, or uncertainty, we agree with the world’s instability instead of God’s faithfulness. Your blessings are not tied to anything in the world; they are directly tied to obedience to God.

Jesus reassured us of this in Matthew 6:30, stating that God takes care of what He has created, from the grass of the field to the birds of the air. He then added, how much more will God take care of you? This indicates that our finances, health, and stability are not dependent on elections, economies, or human systems, but rather on faith and obedience to God and His Word.Many believers concentrate solely on what they perceive in the natural. If the president they voted for wins, they expect everything will be fine. If the economy is in decline, they fear everything will fall apart. Here’s the truth: governments change, economies fluctuate, but God and His Word remain true. God operates in a higher realm of authority, and His anointing breaks every yoke and destroys every bondage. When we shift our perspective from fear about what is happening around us to faith in what God has promised, we access supernatural provision and peace.

Practical Application

Refuse to be distracted by the world’s systems. Politics, economies, and world events do not determine your future. God does. Stay informed, but don’t get consumed by fear and propaganda. You can live aware but not afraid.

Matthew 8:26; Mark 4:40

Jesus’ Manifesto

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn. (Isaiah 61:1-2)

Imagine this: you’re sitting in a synagogue in Nazareth during a regular service, as usual. Today's guest speaker is the local carpenter’s son, who stands up as requested to read a passage. He unrolls the scroll of Isaiah and reads a familiar prophecy, then drops a bombshell: “Today, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Did He claim to be the One Isaiah wrote about—the anointed Messiah? Cue gasps, dropped jaws, and a whole lot of offended people. This moment in Luke 4:18-19 wasn’t just dramatic; it was groundbreaking. Jesus wasn’t merely making a statement—He was unveiling His mission, manifesto, purpose, and heart. Let’s break down three points of what Jesus outlined in His “manifesto”:

1. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me. The Holy Spirit is the “secret sauce” of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus lived on earth as a man empowered by the Holy Spirit.

2. To preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted. Jesus didn’t come to rub elbows with the rich and famous or preach to people who had it all together. He sought out the poor, the overlooked, and the brokenhearted.

3. To proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. Think about this: Jesus is the ultimate freedom fighter.

Practical Application

Jesus didn't come to make things just a little better; He came to turn the world upside down, bringing freedom where there was bondage, healing where there was brokenness, and hope where there was despair.

Luke 7:22; Isaiah 42:7