Scripture:

1 Kings 21:28-29

28 And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 “See how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days. In the days of his son I will bring the calamity on his house.”

Observation:

It Shall Be Done

Among all the kings, Ahab and Jezebel did the most damage, the greatest evil, and because of this wicked thing he did to Naboth for a vineyard.   As a side note, I want you to notice it was Jezebel who schemed the evil thing, but it was Ahab who was accountable for it.   Yet here in today's portion, the Lord sends Elijah, the prophet of Israel, to Ahab to tell him of the judgment he has brought down on his own head. The scripture says that he humbled himself and repented, and because of it, the Lord was merciful, but notice that the Lord did not keep from His promise; this would be done, just not in his days but in the days of his son's rule. 

Application:

Today's God Shot is that the Lord will keep His promises. You can take the check to the bank and cash it. His promises are good; the Bible says they are "yes" and "amen."   The second part of today's God Shot is that His mercy endures forever: if you humble yourself, God sees our hearts, and He is merciful, not giving us what we deserve but what we don't deserve.

Here are seven promises you can hold onto today:

1. Constant Presence: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)
2. Perfect Peace: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you." (John 14:27)
3. Strength in Weakness: "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." (Isaiah 40:29)
4. Divine Provision: "My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)
5. Hope and a Future: " 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord... 'plans to give you hope and a future.' " (Jeremiah 29:11)
6. Guidance: "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go." (Psalm 32:8)
7. Rest for the Weary: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

Prayer:

Lord, we thank you that you never change, that you are constant, that we can trust in you and in your promises, you will keep them, you don't waver, you are merciful, giving us what we do not deserve. Lord, keep us from evil and keep our hearts near you, in Jesus' name, Amen!