by Pastor Cecil | Jan 17, 2012 | 2 Kings
II Kings 6:17
And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
I can recall two incidents in the air that stand out in my mind. Both of them occurred while I was a passenger in a small private aircraft. The first was watching from the rear passenger window and seeing a police car pull over a motorist. It was clear from this vantage point that the officer had been positioned so the oncoming motorist would not have seen him until it was too late. Bam! A ticket!
If there had been some way I could have been able to communicate with the driver before he encountered the officer’s radar I could have warned him to slow down. As a matter of fact there were plenty of speed limit signs and the driver had chosen to ignore them.
The second incident happened so quickly there was no time to be prepared. We were flying from Sacramento, California to Spokane, Washington. We were flying through broken clouds and enjoying the trip when suddenly a military fighter jet passed within a few hundred feet directly in front of us. He must have had radar and could see us even though we had no idea there was another plane near us. It was a reminder that we were just a few hundred feet from eternity.
Each man and woman on planet earth has been given a clear warning. We either heed the warnings God has clearly given in His Word to be born again, or we face the ultimate penalty. The end may be milliseconds away, so it is imperative to make our choice to accept the Lord while there is still time.
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing.
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 12, 2011 | 2 Kings
2 Kings 6:17
“And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.“
I have had the blessing of knowing a few blind people. At first I was a little uncomfortable when I was around them. I was worried that I would say something or do something that would make them uncomfortable or even irritated with me. On the contrary, they have usually been a delight to be around. As a matter of fact we have several blind subscribers to the Daily-E-Votional.
It has been my experience that many sighted people are far more spiritually blind than some who have lost their physical eyesight. In a manner of speaking we need to pray that the Lord will open our eyes to see what is happening around us.
In today’s Scripture, Elisha was surrounded by an armed force that was sent to capture him. Elisha’s servant was terrified when he woke and saw that they were surrounded. It was then that Elisha prayed this prayer and suddenly the servant could see that God’s army was far superior to the puny human army.
We may be faced with obstacles in our life that seem insurmountable. It is at these times that we need to pray the God of heaven that He might open our eyes in order that we can understand God is in control. Here is the question that we need to ask ourselves: Are we praying for the Lord to give us sight to see His power displayed?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.com My book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations, is now available on Kindle books. Just go the Kindle store and type in Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations, or Pastor Cecil Thompson.
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 2, 2011 | 2 Kings
2 Kings 6:17
“And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
This passage is one of my favorites. Elisha, by the power of the Holy Spirit, had been supplying the king of Israel up-to-date reports on any traps that the king of Aram had been setting for him. When the king of Aram discovered that it was Elisha who had been warning the king of Israel, he sent troops by night to arrest Elisha and bring him back to him.
In the morning the servant of Elisha saw the armed force of Aram surrounding them. In utter terror he reported to Elisha that they were surrounded and there was no hope of escape for them. It was then that Elisha prayed this prayer to allow his servant what he already was able to see. Oh, how I wish we could see the army of the Lord that He has placed around us.
Clara Fiske Scott lived from 1841 to 1897 when she died after being thrown from a buggy by a runaway horse. She was a prolific hymn writer, but only this week’s featured hymn is still in circulation. Think of her hymn as a prayer such as Elisha had prayed so long ago.
“Open My Eyes“
Open my eyes, that I may see,
glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key,
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Refrain: Silently now I wait for Thee,
ready my God, Thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine.
Open my ears, that I may hear,
voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave notes fall on my ear,
everything false will disappear.
Refrain: Silently now I wait for Thee,
ready my God, Thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine.
Open my mouth, and let me bear,
gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare,
love with Thy children thus to share.
Refrain: Silently now I wait for Thee,
ready my God, Thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine.
To access Open My Eyes, this week’s free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/openmyeyes/
It is my desire that the words of this hymn will become my constant prayer. In the moments when the cares of this world tend to blind me to the mighty power of God unto salvation, I want to have my eyes opened wide.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
360-570-0074
PastorCecil@Daily-E-Votional.com
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.com Please feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family and friends.
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 10, 2010 | 2 Kings
II Kings 6:17
“And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
The first time I flew into St. Anthony, Newfoundland, Canada, I was scared spitless! The pilot flew an ancient DC-3 aircraft that had seen years of service and I wondered if it was going to make it. Suddenly as we approached the runway the pilot banked sharply at low altitude. I wondered how they could use such an incompetent pilot . . . that is until I looked out of my window and saw a horse amble off the runway and onto the grass.
You see, what the pilot saw from his cockpit was the only horse within miles. This horse always seemed to make his resting place in the middle of the runway. The pilots knew about it and would always make a low pass to get the horse to move so they could land safely.
There are so many dangers that lurk ahead of us and I am so grateful that we have the Lord as our Pilot to see what lies ahead and keep us safe from any danger that lurks in our pathway. Clara Fiske Scott wrote this week’s featured hymn; “Open My Eyes.” Think of it as our prayer to the Lord.
“Open My Eyes“
Open my eyes, that I may see,
glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key,
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Refrain: Silently now I wait for Thee,
ready my God, Thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine.
Open my ears, that I may hear,
voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave notes fall on my ear,
everything false will disappear.
Refrain: Silently now I wait for Thee,
ready my God, Thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine.
Open my mouth, and let me bear,
gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare,
love with Thy children thus to share.
Refrain: Silently now I wait for Thee,
ready my God, Thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine.
To access Open My Eyes, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/openmyeyes in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
360-570-0074
PastorCecil@Daily-E-Votional.com
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 7, 2009 | 2 Kings
2 Kings 2:11
“As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.”
Memories have flooded my mind since I received word that Dr. Gerald Ford, a wonderful, godly former professor of mine had died. His class stands out since he told us on the first day of class that he was going to give us all of the questions that would be on the tests that he would give. There was only one detail—he gave us a list of 500 questions, and we never knew which ones would be asked! I think I studied more in that class than any other and enjoyed it.
This brilliant scientist had worked on the Manhattan Project during WWII yet had a humble Christian spirit that made him a true example of what a man of God should be.
As I read the tribute that was paid to Dr. Ford, I was struck by a quote that was attributed to him: “I always imagined that I would go out in a ‘blaze of glory’, but I suppose I will have to settle for going out in an ordinary way.” The tribute mentioned that it was not his death, but his life that was a “blaze of glory.”
In today’s Scripture, we read of the prophet Elijah being caught up to heaven in a chariot of fire. We might even say it was a “blaze of glory.” But the real blaze of glory in his life was his unswerving faithfulness to the Lord.
As Elijah left this earth he left his mantle to Elisha, who assumed his role as the faithful servant of the Lord. In a way, Elijah’s blaze of glory was his assistant, Elisha. The blaze of glory continued to burn for years to come.
May we all have those beside us who will inherit our BLAZE OF GLORY!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 8, 2009 | 2 Kings
2 Kings 6:17
“And Elisha prayed, ‘O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
This passage is one of my favorites. Elisha, by the power of the Holy Spirit, had been supplying the king of Israel up-to-date reports on any traps that the king of Aram had been setting for him. When the king of Aram discovered that it was Elisha who had been warning the king of Israel, he sent troops by night to arrest Elisha and bring him back to him.
In the morning the servant of Elisha saw the armed force of Aram surrounding them. In utter terror he reported to Elisha that they were surrounded and there was no hope of escape for them. It was then that Elisha prayed this prayer to allow his servant what he already was able to see. Oh, how I wish we could see the army of the Lord that He has placed around us.
Clara Fiske Scott lived from 1841 to 1897 when she died after being thrown from a buggy by a runaway horse. She was a prolific hymn writer, but only this week’s featured hymn is still in circulation. Think of her hymn as a prayer such as Elisha had prayed so long ago.
“Open My Eyes“
Open my eyes, that I may see,
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key,
That shall unclasp and set me free.
Refrain: Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!
Open my ears, that I may hear,
Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave notes fall on my ear,
Everything false will disappear.
Refrain:
Open my mouth, and let me bear,
Gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare,
Love with Thy children thus to share.
Refrain
To access Open My Eyes, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/openmyeyes in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
