The Lord has given such spiritual success to some. Are we praying for this success in many more? Are we calling the world to faith in Christ with the expectation that the Lord will indeed bring success? May the Lord Jesus Christ grant success to His Word that the eyes of the blind might see and the ears of the deaf might hear that Jesus Christ is Lord!
So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. – II Kings 6:16-17 NKJV
What does success mean to you? Living in the United States in 2021 with the stock market at record highs, home prices soaring, and invisible currencies leading many from rags to billions, success is often correlated today (as it has been over the ages) with wealth and material prosperity. Near seconds to wealth are power and recognition but those too often coincide in some manner with wealth.
Success viewed in the measuring cup of the world is fleeting. Like a bird, material things sprout their wings and fly away from us. Certainly our chief desire for success should not center on those things which will quickly pass away but on those things which are enduring. When Elisha prayed to the Lord for success with his servant he didn’t ask for wealth so that they could pay off the Syrians, he did not ask for a physical army to intimidate the Syrians, he did not pray for prestige that he might awe the Syrian army, he prayed, “Lord… open his eyes that he may see.”
Notice the simplicity of Elisha’s prayer. It was just ten words. Nothing elaborate. Elisha offered a simple pointed prayer trusting that the Lord who heard his prayer was able and willing to answer.
