Christian Devotional – July 22, 2020

Double Portion – #16

Praising God comes first. We see the conclusion of the story with the woman and her son in 2 Kings 4:29-37.

Then he said to Gehazi, “Gird up your loins and take my staff in your hand, and go your way; if you meet any man, do not salute him, and if anyone salutes you, do not answer him; and lay my staff on the lad’s face.” The mother of the lad said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” And he arose and followed her. Then Gehazi passed on before them and laid the staff on the lad’s face, but there was no sound or response. So he returned to meet him and told him, “The lad has not awakened.” When Elisha came into the house, behold the lad was dead and laid on his bed. So he entered and shut the door behind them both and prayed to the Lord . And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth and his eyes on his eyes and his hands on his hands, and he stretched himself on him; and the flesh of the child became warm. Then he returned and walked in the house once back and forth, and went up and stretched himself on him; and the lad sneezed seven times and the lad opened his eyes. He called Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said, “Take up your son.” Then she went in and fell at his feet and bowed herself to the ground, and she took up her son and went out.
2 Kings 4:29‭-‬37 NASB
https://bible.com/bible/100/2ki.4.29-37.NASB

Elisha went and followed through on what God had for him and it resulted in the son coming back to life. The woman, who just saw her son alive, instead of running to him, praised and worshipped God first, before doing anything else.

When God works in our lives, do we praise him? Do we praise him first? What puts our focus on him? How can we continue to keep our focus directly on God?