“Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19:18)

In the day and age we live in, the title of this devotion is one thing that daily keeps me encouraged. Looking in the chapter where our Scripture is found, in verses 10 and 14, Elijah was pouring his heart out to God and telling Him how he felt.

Elijah said:

“…I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left…”  (1 Kings 19:10)

Elijah felt like the whole nation of Israel was given over to idolatrous practices, and he was the only one left worshipping God in spirit and truth. He felt as if he were alone!

God then encouraged him (verse 18) by saying that He had left Himself seven thousand in Israel who were true worshippers of God. It seemed to Elijah that he was all by himself, but God had a remnant.

Months back, as I was growing in the Lord, I was at a point in my life where I wanted everyone to have this joy I had; and I wanted to change the world. As I pondered on those thoughts, I got down in my spirit – because the world is looking bad and the Bible lets us know that it’s only going to get worse. I began to think that my former thoughts were now impossible. But just as God encouraged Elijah, He encouraged me to know that there will always be a remnant.

When natural disasters happen, they interview people who say how terrible the situation was, and how they lost so much. But there will always be those who just thank God for being alive.

Whether you desire to be a missionary and do the work of God; or whether you decide to write Christian books and spread the Good News; be encouraged and know that if you faint not, you shall reap in due season (Galatians 6:9).

And when it looks or feels like your work for the Lord isn’t making a difference in anybody’s life, and it looks like the whole world is following the devil – know that there will always be a remnant.