“Elisha went in alone and shut the door behind him and prayed to the LORD. Then he lay down on the child’s body, placing his mouth on the child’s mouth, his eyes on the child’s eyes, and his hand on the child’s hand. And as he stretched out on him, the child’s body began to grow warm again! Elisha got up, walked back and forth across the room once, and then stretched himself out again on the child. This time the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes!”
2 Kings 4:33-35 NLT
When the Shunemite woman’s son died, Elisha sent his servant to lay his staff on the child, but nothing happened—not until Elisha got personally involved with the child.
When it comes to our children, simply laying a staff of rules on them will not produce God’s life either. Elisha first shut the door and prayed. THAT is where miracles begin—behind closed doors we pray—and then we trust GOD to do miracles through OUR actions.
Notice Elisha did not preach to the child’s dead body. No matter how dead our children may seem to relationship with God, harping at them will never produce life. Elisha got close to the child with his mouth, his eyes, and his hands. Likewise, our mouths must speak words of affirmation instead of anger. Our eyes must display love instead of disgust. And our hands must remain wide open and hug tightly.
It may take time for your child to grow warm again. Even Elisha had to stretch himself AGAIN before that child finally came alive. We too must stretch ourselves again and again to connect with our kids. But remember—it was not the warmth of Elisha’s body that brought life, it was the power of the Holy Spirit within him
That same power still revives lifeless children today…
and it flows every time we stretch ourselves to connect!
