1 Kings 17:1-6  
Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!” 

Then the Lord said to Elijah, “Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.” 

So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook. (NLT)

—

Here is the most important lesson we will ever learn: Elijah heard God’s message and did what God told him to do. 

Hearing and obeying God is the foremost lesson of our lives. 

What Elijah heard and how he responded sounds crazy. He lived in crazy times with a crazy king and queen we will read all about in the next few chapters. What sounds so crazy to us resulted in Elijah always having enough of what he needed to survive and thrive under God’s direction. 

What is God saying to you today? 

Let’s be clear about a thing or two: God will never tell you to sin. He will never tell you to act out of step with his character and purpose. He will never lead you falsely. 

To understand what God is saying to us, we require daily time alone with him. We need a Bible reading plan where we learn to see and hear what he has said and done across the arc of history. We need to see how he guides individuals and groups. We need to spend time with people we know have deep and abiding walks with God. We need to learn and put into practice spiritual disciplines.

Many helpful books have been written regarding the five sentences in the paragraph before this one. Since we are on a tight schedule due to an early-morning appointment, take the passage above from 1 Kings 17 and ask God to speak to you through it. 

* What one big idea stands out to you? 
* How should you adjust your thoughts and behavior today in light of it? 
* Is there anything to shape your thinking, praying, and serving? 
* When you reflect on your day this evening and see how God proved himself true to what he said, how will you praise him for who he is and thank him for what he has done?

—

I will learn and relearn and pass along to others life’s most important lesson of learning how to hear and obey God.

—

Our Father, please give me ears to hear what you are saying today. Please give me an obedient heart to follow your instructions. As you bless me, make me a blessing to others. Empower me to help others learn what I am learning as I hear and obey you and experience all the goodness that arises from following in your steps. Amen.