For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV))

Do you want all God has for you? God has fashioned days for you (Psalm 139:16). Although we’re not saved by good works, we are saved by grace, through faith, for those good works (Ephesians 2:8-10). God has prepared those works for you beforehand that you should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).

God wants to do things in and through your life. But He won’t force you. He gives you the choice. Yet, when you say no, you miss out on so much joy.

So, I’ll ask the question again: Do you want all God has for you?

If you do, you will need to be persistent and focused. And you’ll have to watch out for discouragement. Unfortunately, discouragement can come from well-meaning sources.

Toward the end of Elijah’s ministry as a prophet, God told him that Elisha would take his place (1 Kings 19:16). So, Elijah went and threw his mantle – his garment or cloak – on Elisha (1 Kings 19:19). Elisha then followed Elijah and became his servant (1 Kings 19:21). By being Elijah’s servant, it prepared him to be God’s prophet.

Now, you may know that Elijah was one of two people in the Bible who never died. Instead, God took Elijah home to be with Him in a chariot of fire by a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11). When it came close to that time,

Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Bethel.”

 

But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel.

 

Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?”

 

And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!” (2 Kings 2:1-3 (NKJV))

The same thing happened two more times when Elijah continued on to Jericho and then to the Jordan River (2 Kings 2:4-6). Yet, Elisha was persistent. Each time Elijah told him, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on,” Elisha declared, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” And he stayed with Elijah.

And even when others asked him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” he kept on. He didn’t stop. Elisha didn’t get bummed out or sidetracked. He was focused.

If Elisha hadn’t remained persistent and focused, he wouldn’t have received all God had for him. After they crossed over the Jordan River, Elijah said to Elisha,

“Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?”

 

Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”

 

So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” (2 Kings 2:9-10 (NKJV))

Did you catch that? Elijah told him, “if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” That means if Elisha had gotten sidetracked or discouraged at any point and hadn’t stayed with Elijah, he wouldn’t have seen Elijah when he was taken up in the whirlwind. And then he wouldn’t have received a double portion.

It makes sense, doesn’t it? God won’t give you more to do when you’ve already decided to stop doing what He’s already entrusted to you. If you’re not faithful with what God’s already given you, He’s not going to add anything to your plate.

We see this principle repeated in the parable of the talents. The servant who hid his talent and didn’t even try had his talent taken away. But those who used their talents were given more (Matthew 25:24-28).

So, the question remains: Do you want all God has for you? Or are you only pursuing what God has for you halfheartedly? If you’re not all in, seeking all God has for you, you could miss out.

I know the path can get hard. Sometimes the circumstances make continuing on to the next place difficult. It can feel cold and lonely. But let’s be persistent and focused. Let’s choose to be women who seek all God has for us as we walk by faith with Him.

Photo by Meera Parat on Unsplash