Step Out on Faith; Forget About Plan B!

Elisha was plowing the field with a team of oxen when Elijah threw his mantle (cape) on him thus indicating he had been chosen to be his successor as the prophet in Israel and head of the school of prophets. Elisha made no provision for returning to his old job if things didn’t work out. He didn’t take a leave of absence; he didn’t sub-lease his equipment or animals to another farmer. In fact, he killed his oxen and boiled them using the fire he made by burning his plow. Talk about a commitment! Elisha became a renowned prophet and miracle-worker.

When God called me to leave a great job in 2006 to write and speak full time, I felt like I’d stepped out onto a ledge at the Empire State Building and locked the window behind me. It was a fly or die decision (financially and professionally speaking)! Well, it’s been seven years now and God has been faithful. He has done exceedingly, abundantly above all I could have asked or thought—and I know that the best is yet to come. What about you? Are you still “plowing” thru unfulfilling work rather than pursuing your destiny? What exactly do you feel God is calling you to do but the provisions don’t seem to be lined up just yet? Remember that He provides where He guides: Meditate on 1 Kings 19:19-21 (NKJV) and be inspired:

“So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.”

And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?”

So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant. “