So she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son.  For thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’ ” So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah.

1 Kings 17:12-16

This woman was facing economic hard times.  Her situation seemed hopeless and without resolve. Then the word of the Lord came to her through the prophet Elijah.  She was faced with a strategic decision in her critical hour. Would she respond to her situation or would she respond to the word of the Lord?

As you can see, she chose to respond and act upon the Word of the Lord and as a result she experienced God’s provision in her time of need.   But this would not have been the case if she had not decided to forsake some things.

• She forsook the resignation that overtook her heart and mind.

I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die

• She forsook the fear that had gripped her heart that painted a fatal end.

And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son.  

• She made a decision to embrace and act upon the Word of the Lord that was spoken to her.

Just like the widow woman, we can find ourselves at times in seemingly impossible situations.  But, it is what we listen to and how we respond in these critical times that can makes the difference.   Do not allow fear to cause you to resign and direct your steps today. Make a decision to listen to and embrace God’s Word in your life.  Arise out of fear and forsake the hopelessness, by simply obeying and trusting God’s Word, as He promises to watch over His Word to perform it.

So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They’ll do the work I sent them to do, they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.

Isaiah 55:11