Then Elisha prayed and said, ‘O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
—2 Kings 6:17

Reflection

Elisha is a fascinating figure. He was Elijah’s servant, and he followed Elijah everywhere he went. Elisha’s whole ministry was serving the prophet Elijah. Then, before Elijah was taken up, Elisha asked to receive a double portion of the anointing that was on Elijah, and that is exactly what happened. The anointing that fell upon Elisha was even stronger than the one Elijah carried, and he worked twice as many miracles as Elijah did.

What was it about Elisha that caused him to receive a double portion of such a powerful anointing?

First, Elisha recognized the anointing that was on Elijah. The anointing you respect is the anointing you will receive from. Elisha was able to receive because he recognized the anointing on Elijah and submitted to it.

Sometimes we miss what we could have absorbed from someone walking at a higher level because we have too much pride to get into right alignment with that person. So many of us lose opportunities to glean from others because of rebellion and pride. We often lack humility because of feelings of inferiority and self-defensiveness, so we resist being in a posture through which we can receive from someone more advanced.

This makes life much more difficult than it ever needed to be. Elisha did not have to start his ministry from scratch. He started from Elijah’s shoulders.

Second, because Elisha recognized the anointing on Elijah’s life, he stayed close to him. The more time we spend with people who are more anointed, more advanced, and more knowledgeable than we are, the more we are able to absorb and learn from what God has placed inside them.

The person you are five years from now will be largely determined by the people you spend your time with during this period. If you spend your time with people who are walking in the power of God, you will be much more advanced than you would be if you continually surrounded yourself only with people at the same level or a lower level.

We must not approach such people trying to prove ourselves, argue, or criticize. We must humble ourselves and place ourselves in a posture where we can receive, absorb, and learn.

Beloved, ask the Lord to open your spiritual eyes. Recognize what He has placed within others. Lay down pride, inferiority, and self-defensiveness. Get into right alignment, stay close, and allow what God has placed in another person’s life to strengthen and advance your own.

Application

• Ask the Lord to reveal whether pride, rebellion, or self-defensiveness is keeping you from receiving from someone He has placed in your life.
• Intentionally stay close to people who are more spiritually mature, knowledgeable, and surrendered to God.

Prayer

Father, open my eyes so that I can recognize the anointing and wisdom You have placed within others. Forgive me for pride, rebellion, inferiority, and self-defensiveness that have kept me from receiving. Give me the humility to submit, listen, learn, and stay in right alignment. Place me near people who are walking in greater maturity and power, and help me absorb what You have placed within them. Prepare me to receive everything You desire to impart to my life. Amen.