Running by His strength

Photo by Josh Gordon

Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah [giving him supernatural strength]. He girded up his loins and outran Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel [nearly twenty miles]. 1 Kings 18:46 AMP

Elijah had just come from Mount Carmel where he and the prophets of Baal had a competition on the God who could answer by fire. The wager was that the God who would answer by fire would be God and the Israelites would worship Him. God answered by fire. Then Elijah tells Ahab that rain is coming, and asks him to return to his palace. When Ahab mounts onto his chariot, Elijah through the power of God outruns Ahab’s chariot all the way to Jezreel.

We are able to see what God’s power on a man can do.

Outrunning horses

Outrunning horses symbolize supernatural speed to overtake things that are more powerful than us. In his own strength, there is no way Elijah could be able to keep up, leave alone outrun a horse.

As we walk through life, we will come against some things that will require more than our strength. Some things will require more than human wisdom.

I have found myself in seasons where I was trying to win against things that proved too difficult.

Mid-last year, I remember going through a season where I was grieving all the things that time had stolen from me. I looked back on all the things I didn’t get to do because I found myself in a season where God had me waiting. I felt like I needed to run against time. I knew in my heart if I was going to catch up on some things, I would need supernatural ability to be able to do so.

I was taking some time to pray and fast. One afternoon, as I was spending some time in prayer, I began to pray a very weird phrase. I said, “Father, give me the speed of horses.” With deep tears, I prayed this phrase over and over for almost half an hour. (There is no way I could know how to pray this way, however, I have a Helper). The Holy Spirit was making me aware of what needed to happen for me to be able to win against time. I needed the speed of horses. When I came out of that prayer, I knew something had changed. Even though nothing in my situation had changed, I knew God had given me something that would help me overtake the things that had been outrunning me.

A few weeks later, I entered a time where I began to prepare for the next season. I had the ability to know what to do to prepare for things that were 2 to 3 years ahead of me. One of these things is writing. I entered a season where God specifically told me to sit down and write in preparation for the next two years. God has led me into a season where I supernaturally have the speed of horses. I can’t tell you how many hours I have sat down and written. I have put together so many resources between last year and now. I fully know there is no way I can do this without His power.

God was very specific about next year. I’m entering a season where I wouldn’t have as much time to sit down and write. I have needed to redeem the time by doing it now. Even though I couldn’t take back the time lost, I have seen God catapult me ahead of seasons so I can be able to do things I would otherwise not do. In a way, I’m outrunning horses. He is recovering time lost for me. He is also recovering opportunities lost for me. He has given me the speed of horses to be able to do what I couldn’t do in my own strength.

God will redeem the time for you and help you outrun some things in your life.

Waiting on God

Waiting isn’t something we like to do, especially me, a type A personality that wants to get everything done by yesterday. In the beginning, I hated waiting, I despised the seasons of waiting. I wanted to quickly get to the next thing, but God had other ideas. I have learnt that waiting is God’s favorite thing in a believer’s life. Waiting on God is funny because even though it feels like nothing is happening, God is often more at work in our waiting than at any other time.

But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40::31

The Hebrew word for wait here is qavah which means twisting or winding a cord.

As we learn to wait on the Lord, something happens; we begin to become one with Him. We become intertwined with Him. We become one by becoming twisted together with Him. This is how His strength becomes our strength. We are now able to rise above difficulties as an eagle soars above the storm. We are able to run and not be weary and walk for a long time without growing faint.

I now know God wasn’t holding out on me in my waiting, He was giving me a unique ability that only comes from waiting on Him. He was giving me the power to outrun horses; the ability to run for a long time and not become weary. His strength had become mine, and I could keep running as well as outrun horses.