1 Kings 19:4 - Your Broom Tree Awaits

Step 1: Pray. Select.

As I looked forward to meeting with the Holy Spirit this morning, the word “journey” kept tugging at me. I continued to calm my mind to hear more clearly and ask the Holy Spirit what it was about a “journey” I needed to study today; 1 Kings 19:4 stood out amongst other scriptures in my prayer time.

With great anticipation, my 8-step prayer practice journey began!

Step 2: Write. Read. Circle

1 Kings 19:4 - But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”

After reading the scripture three times, the following words stood out amongst the others:

• A Day’s Journey

• Under Broom Tree

• It is enough!

Step 3: Re-Write

With a focus on the words that stood out, here is the personalized sentence placed upon my heart. Don’t forget, if you are doing this alongside me today, to add your name to your unique sentence:

• Jennifer, a day’s journey under a broom tree; it is enough!

Step 4: Visualize

As I meditate on the verse and the personalized sentence the Holy Spirit gave to me this morning, he is telling me that sometimes, as we journey through times and seasons of life, the road can be long. Just when you think you can’t go on, in the distance, there is always a broom tree waiting.

In the scripture, on Elijah’s journey, things had gotten so unbearable that he wanted to die. It was painful to keep going, so he lay down for a moment to rest under the shade of the tree in the desert. When he awoke, there was food and water to sustain him.

I notice that sometimes, when we lay down and get comfortable, God is not asking us to stop the journey; he is only letting us rest along the way.

Friends, the Holy Spirit is asking me to examine comfort vs calling.

When Elijah says, “Take my life,” he thinks death is better than continuing to live in fear, running, and being hunted. He is spent and giving up.

But later in the chapter, he is instructed by God and given the next steps to keep going. His encounter with God after he sustains and continues onward from the broom tree is nothing short of incredible, as Holy Spirit led me to read 1 Kings 11-14:

11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 And he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

God reveals his next steps and calls him directly by name! He also lets him know he is not alone, and there are seven thousand others like him who have not bowed down to Baal or the false Gods and thirst for the LORD.

Sometimes, the journey and sacrifices of one are enough bread to sustain thousands. But we must continue towards the calling and not lie down and die. Your encounter and instructions are waiting for you to claim. Today, we need bold faith to put fear back into the grave instead of putting ourselves there. Many could be waiting on your revelation, testimony, and hope of protection through your personal encounter with God.

So, if you have been given a breath this morning that woke you up, trust God will provide you with more than enough to sustain you through another day. Lay your head under the broom tree he has and will provide when needed along your path, rest your worries, and when you get back up to continue your journey in whatever season you are in, know your God who calls you by name has a plan which will not just sustain you, but provide sustenance for those around you who have been waiting for some good news. Those who have not kissed the false Gods did not bow down to Baal. Let the oil flow over you and into the lives of many today who, like you, are thirsty for the LORD.

I continue to Step 5 with a question for the Holy Spirit.

Step 5: Ask. Seek

The words that came to mind were:

• Holy Spirit, if I can’t see the path ahead, how do I muster up the spirit to endure the road ahead when I may be tired?

Step 6: Hear. Write. Receive

Here is the answer I received:

“Have I not brought you out of slavery over and over in the past. Have I not sustained you through life’s fiery trials? Go forward as you are called. Don’t doubt who you are or what you are doing. As you take steps in faith and obedience, I will always meet you there to sustain you. Jezebel spoke of world comfort in this Book of Kings, causing Kings to fall. Pay no attention to that which is not about my Father’s business. Speak to the voices which contradict your Father as Jesus did in Luke 2:49 - And He said to them, 'Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?' Tell menacing spirits, ‘Don’t bother me; I am busy doing my Father’s business. Get behind me, and do not step in front of a path my Father made uniquely for me.’ Stand firm in your word daily; it is intentional for you to eat from, and you will see the wind tear into the mountain and break it to pieces. But the answer is not in the wind but in the still, small voice inside you. The voice in which I speak to you now. The broken mountain is an outward manifestation of the power of my voice, which lives inside. Never forget that no matter how large the miracle, the voice inside which brought it to pass is mightier than what we witness with our eyes.”

Step 7: Pray. Confirm

Heavenly Father, I come to you through your mighty son, Jesus.

Please help me to understand through your still, small voice alive inside of me; I can sustain the words spoken out of your mouth alone. You already know what is ahead on my path, so quicken my understanding, allowing me to walk closer to you, leaving no room for the enemy to step in front of my path that you have set for me. Let the revelation you show me today inspire others, leaving a fragrance of the Holy Spirit everywhere I go, providing hope and remembrance that you are ever present in all things. Thank you for your encouragement to keep going. Thank you for the journey, no matter what comes, as I will move and not lay down and die falling short of what you have for me and others surrounding me. I am excited to finish your work until the day of Jesus.

I seal this prayer with the precious blood of Jesus - Amen!

If you used the scripture of the day and need prayer or someone to pray with you, connect Here. Remember, you are not alone.

Step 8: Share. Testify

If you workshopped any of the verses mentioned above using the 8-Step Prayer Practice, we would love to hear from you in the comments below about what the Holy Spirit showed or spoke to you today.

Remember to spread hope and share your miracle or testimony HERE. We want to see how God is working in your life!

Conclusion:

Friends, we must be on the lookout for our broom tree, which will provide a resting place along the journey.

Have faith that the Father will meet your needs today as you rest for a bit on the promise that he knows you by name and will call you to keep moving at the appointed time.

Don’t underestimate the small voice inside, which has the power to tear down any mountain you face.

Last but certainly not least, don’t give up! Your personal encounter of his goodness may be waiting right around the corner. This is not just for you but for the thousands you will touch, spreading hope like wildfire and providing food for all in need.

Be blessed, and see you soon!