May 12

After the showdown with the followers of the false god Baal, Elijah ran for his life, dejected and afraid. He wound up in a cave in a mountain. He went from one type of mountain (spiritual victory) to another (physical). First he had gotten a tremendous victory over the forces of evil on one mountain top, and then he ran away to hide on another mountain.

While there in his mountain of defeat, Elijah was privileged to witness the great might of God. For there God showed Elijah how he who created the mountains could also destroy them by that same great power.

Elijah witnessed a great and powerful wind that tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks. He witnessed an earthquake--and then a fire. But Scripture says that God was not in any of these. They were simply carriers of his power and might, not of his presence.

Then came a still, small voice, asking Elijah the one question that every human being needs to answer before he or she dies:

"Then a voice said to him, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?'" (1 Kings 19:13).

I love those words. What deeper question could God ask of each of us than why we exist?

Scripture for today: 1 Kings 19
Thought for today: God asks me, "What am I doing here?"
Prayer for today: Lord, grant that my answer to your question mayalways be, "I am doing what you have called me to do, Lord. I am obeying you and loving you."

MAY 12