Week Twenty: Bouncing Back
This Week’s Readings
Day 1: 2 Kings 1-3
Day 2: 2 Kings 4-7
Day 3: 2 Kings 8-11
Day 4: 2 Kings 12-15
Day 5: 2 Kings 16-18
Day 6: 2 Kings 19-22
Day 7: Catch up
Reflections
Can you identify in any way with the story of the woman from 2 Kings? Why?
Has there ever been a time when you’ve wondered where God was? How did you handle it?
Reflections from The Bible in 52 Weeks by Dr. Kimberly Moore
GraceNotes - My Reflections
2 Kings 4:1-7 NIV
“The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.” Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.” She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.””
Ever feel like you’re running on empty but still need to give so much? That's when our faith truly shines! The type of faith that is truly the substance of all things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Think about the story of the widow and her little jar of oil. She had almost nothing, yet her faith was everything. For us mama bears protecting our cubs from the world's craziness, it takes prayer and that mustard seed-sized, wildly audacious faith to believe God will add His super to our natural.
Imagine having nothing but trusting that God will provide more than you can contain! It’s mind-blowing and brings so much peace. So, even when you feel like you’re down to your last drop, remember: God’s got you, and He’ll always make a way.
2 Kings 5:10-19 NIV
“Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage. Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.” The prophet answered, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.” And even though Naaman urged him, he refused. “If you will not,” said Naaman, “please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the Lord. But may the Lord forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I have to bow there also—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord forgive your servant for this.” “Go in peace,” Elisha said.
Have you ever taken the time to read about Naaman’s healing from leprosy? It’s such a powerful reminder that faith takes action. "Go, wash yourself." We believe God for big miracles, and He shows up, but sometimes we need to cleanse ourselves internally, too.
This year, I started praying for God to reveal my heart to me—the good, the bad, and what needs fixing. I want to see my heart in the mirror because everything flows from there. And I’ve extended that prayer to my loved ones, my sisters, everyone I meet, because sometimes it’s what’s inside that needs adjusting.
Naaman had a visible issue, but God also addressed his internal issue: pride. God humbled him by charging him to WASH YOURSELF. It’s like going to the car wash—what’s the point if we don’t clean the inside too? We can look pretty on the outside, but the real adjustments start within.
Hey Ladies! Drop your revelations, thoughts, and those lightbulb "aha" moments right down there in the comment section! Let's create a space to spill the beans on how God is throwing us some divine vibes as we dive deep into His word. Time to share the spiritual tea!
