SCRIPTURE READING: 1 KINGS 19: 1-8, 18
FOCUS: “But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” (1 Kings 19: 4)
MEMORY VERSE: “So you must be brave. Don’t give up! God will honor you for obeying him.” (2 Chronicles 15: 7 CEV)
Our Focal Scripture captures that moment when Elijah requested for himself that he might die, because of the pressure of Jezebel. Jezebel threatened Elijah in the aftermath of the encounter on Mount Carmel where Elijah killed the prophets of Baal. Elijah did a great exploit, and followed it with praying for rain to return to Israel. After the threats of Jezebel, the same Elijah who did exploits, simply gave up and desired to die.
The spirit of Jezebel is that spirit that causes great men to give up. The spirit of Jezebel is that spirit that causes men with capacity to look down on themselves and write themselves off. The spirit of Jezebel is that spirit that causes men to desire extinction when there is room for more exploits. The spirit of Jezebel is that spirit that comes upon a man and makes him question his destiny mandate. The spirit of Jezebel makes men to give up.
Friend, hear me as I hear the Lord: no matter how pressured, abandoned and dejected you feel this year, don’t give up. No matter how it seems that the odds are stacked against you, don’t give up. No matter how it seems that you are on the losing side, don’t give up. No matter how the Jezebels of this world threaten you, don’t give up. No matter the messengers of Jezebel that show up with negative verdicts, don’t give up.
Don’t believe the lie of the enemy that says giving up is an option. Don’t believe that lie that says everything will be okay when you give up. Don’t be pressured to give up on life. Don’t be tricked into giving up on God. Don’t be bullied into accepting that your time on earth is up. Don’t believe those distressing tales the enemy tells you in your head in order to make you give up. Don’t let a depressing moment make you accept to give up.
Things may not be at their best at the moment, but it is not over yet. It may feel like giving up is an option, but no matter what happens, don’t give up.
FURTHER READING: 2 CHRONICLES 15
DECLARATION:
- In 2026, I won’t give up, in Jesus’ name!