Have you ever known a wet blanket? You know––the guy who never goes anywhere without taking along an attitude of negativity and disbelief? This guy looks at God’s promises of blessing and wonders aloud not when they’ll happen but if. If so, you know a man who regularly misses out on the empowerment, blessing, peace, and joy that God generously gives to those who are willing to ask him and believe him for what they need. Nothing keeps God from blessing people quite like unbelief. That was certainly the case with the unnamed officer of Samaria’s king during the prophet Elisha’s time. Samaria’s people suffered a terrible famine following the Amorites’ invasion. Starving people spent all their money on items usually considered inedible. Finally, the desperate king sent his officer to ask Elisha to do something. Elisha compassionately pronounced a blessing on Samaria, telling the officer that within one day there would be more than enough flour and barley for everyone (see 2 Kings 7:1). The king’s officer just couldn’t believe his ears or God’s promises: “That couldn’t happen even if the Lord opened the windows of heaven!” he exclaimed. He was dead wrong. Elisha once more affirmed God’s blessing on Samaria, but he told this unbelieving officer that he wouldn’t enjoy so much as one bite of the bounty. Just a few hours later, everything Elisha had predicted came true. This officer would have received God’s blessing along with the rest of his people if he had done just one thing: take God at his word. In what areas of life do you need to take God at his word today?

God promises to bless you richly if you choose to believe him and expectantly wait for him to come through. He has never yet failed a man who places his full trust in him, and he won’t fail you.

What is God saying to you right now? Jot down those thoughts and pray them back to Him.

This devotion was taken from: The One Year Men of the Bible; August 22; by James Stuart Bell