The story of Elisha restoring the lost axe head in 2 Kings chapter 6 holds a powerful message for us today.
Through it, God speaks to anyone who feels they have lost their momentum or “cutting edge.”
The Lord is highlighting this promise:
“Those from among you
Shall build the old waste places;
You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,
The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.”
(Isaiah 58:12, NKJV)
He is encouraging the “restorers”, prayer warriors, and builders, saying:
“Receive My fresh anointing to build. I am renewing and restoring you, inviting you to participate in My great work of restoration.”
A Prophetic Dream
“The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.”
Last week, I had a prophetic dream about God’s people gathering in the streets.
They were filled with joy and anticipation.
There was food and refreshments, and an atmosphere of worship.
The following night, Malcolm and I prayed about the dream.
When the Holy Spirit speaks, we’ve learned to keep the conversation going, which led me to this story, from 2 Kings chapter 6.
A Generation Worshiping Openly
Only a generation earlier, the prophets were hiding in caves.
But now, they are experiencing a move of God— out in the open.
What’s more, in 2 Kings chapter 6, the company of prophets has grown too big for their premises!
“Those from among you
Shall build the old waste places;
You shall raise up the foundations of many generations.”
We live in a day where we shall see a generation worshiping openly!
God is calling His people out of hiding.
This story holds even more treasure for those who feel weary or have lost focus or momentum.
Five Ways God Can Restore Your “Cutting Edge”
1. Recognize God is Present With You
The prophets come to the prophet Elisha, their leader, with a proposal.
“Let’s go down to the Jordan River, where there are plenty of logs. There we can build a new place for us to meet.” “Alright,” he told them, “Go ahead.”
Elisha confirms that the work is of God.
When you receive confirmation that you’re in the right place at the right time, you have a strong foundation.
One that will protect you in times to come, in ways you may be unaware of now.
What follows, is a small but pivotal exchange:
“Please come with us,” someone suggested. “I will,” he said. So, he went with them. (2 King 6:2, NLT)
Likewise, Jesus promises to always be with us.
Even so, something powerful happens when we welcome and recognize the presence of His Holy Spirit.
2. Turn to God in a Time of Need
“When they arrived at the Jordan, they began cutting down trees.
But as one of them was cutting a tree, his axe head fell into the river.”
The heavy axe head has been lost in the riverbed—perhaps, among other stones, or debris. Its location has probably been obscured, by depths, or mud.
It’s costly to replace, and worse—he has borrowed it from someone.
The would-be builder watches with dismay as it sinks out of sight.
He can’t help the community build without the axe. What will he do?
The man doesn’t launch a futile rescue mission!
In that moment of loss, he knows instinctively where to turn:
The prophet Elisha.
“Oh, sir!” he cried. “It was a borrowed axe!” (2 Kings 6:4-5)
The Lord wants you to know there is power in your prayers—even your simple cries for help!
And He hears you.
3. Receive God’s Grace and Watch Him Move on Your Behalf
Notice that Elisha doesn’t criticize or blame him—or question what went wrong.
And we don’t know why the man has lost the axe head.
Was it carelessness, or an accident?
Or was he simply hard at work and in his weariness, lost his grip?
All are relatable!
But none of those matter to Elisha.
He only asks, “Where did it fall?” (2 Kings 6:6)
Can you identify with losing your momentum, or cutting edge?
Now is the time to lean into God, and to rely on his strength.
Someone needs to know that God does not require your analysis.
He is offering His grace and mercy to you.
You only need to acknowledge it and watch Him work.
4. Lean Into Jesus’ Finished Work
Having identified the spot where the axe head fell into the river, Elisha does something unusual—yet extremely symbolic.
Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water. Then the axe head floated to the surface. (2 Kings 6:6b, NLT)
The Hebrew word translated “stick” is mostly translated as “tree” throughout the Bible (Strong’s H6806).
As the “stick” goes in, the axe head rises—until it floats upon the surface.
It’s a miracle that is contrary to the laws of nature!
In Exodus 15, God shows Moses a tree (same Hebrew word)—and when he casts it into the bitter water, it becomes sweet!
The tree represents the cross of Christ.
God’s abundant grace available in Jesus is here for you!
The power of the blood of Christ is the solution for your specific need—the one you have right now.
5. Respond to God in Faith
The axe head is now floating on the surface of the water.
But Elisha does not reach for it.
Elisha is the agent for the miracle, but the man still must pick it up.
“Grab it,” Elisha said. And the man reached out and grabbed it. (2 Kings 6:7, NLT)
The Lord says to many of us, “Pick up that gift. I am restoring you and equipping you with a fresh anointing.”
You are Equipped and Anointed to Build
Sometimes, a disrupting event happens in our lives or ministry.
We are in a new space and need to begin again.
Or someone we relied on leaves or moves.
The situation changes.
Loss may knock you for a while.
But God is giving you a new strength—greater than your past strength!
For you have an added weight of authority.
Hear Him say,
“I am anointing you to build again. And though you may feel weak, I have made springs of resilience available to you by My Spirit. In your dependence upon Me is the abundance of power.”
Leave a Comment
How have these insights about the axe head ministered to you? Receiving and writing this has been a special joy for me, in a time of loss. I’d love to hear your feedback and insights, so leave a comment in the box below.
Related Posts:
5 Keys to Increasing Your Spiritual Authority (from the story of Elisha and 2 King chapter 6)
Powerful New Content in the 2nd Edition of the Prophetic Journaling eBook
I’ve compiled all my best tips and insights on journaling in this eBook, “Prophetic Journaling: Create Your Treasury of Insights from God.” You can find it inside the course or purchase it separately.
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Spot them below:**
Complete List of Chapter titles:
1: Gather the Manna! God has an Abundance for You
2: How Journaling Can Sharpen Your Prophetic Gift
3: My Best Tip for Prophetic Journaling
4: Ideas for Journaling Tools and Media
5: Ask Questions in Prophetic Journaling
6:The Surprising Strength of “Prayer Journaling”
7: How to Receive a Prophetic Word for a New Chapter
8. **Journaling About Prophetic Dreams
9: Your Key to the Greatest Treasure in Journaling
10: Let the Holy Spirit be Your Writing Tutor
11. **Signs, Symbols, and Upgrading Your Journal
12: How Prophetic Journaling Can Break Open Your Destiny
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Enliven Ministries: Prophetic ministry for a revival generation
Helen Calder is a prophetic minister and writer, and founder of Enliven Ministries. Helen has a unique gift of equipping in prophetic ministry and prayer. She is known for Enliven Blog (est. 2009), an online resource that reaches thousands of people globally.
Thank you Helen, a word in time indeed as always. God bless you.
I am from a generation where – if you gave me a paper phone book, I could out Google Google in a minute. lol So, terms like e-book and PDF have no meaning for me. Where might I go to receive information that would explain those to me? Is an e-book something that stays on your computer .. like a paper file folder would be in a wooden cupboard (no technology)? I do enjoy my paper .. something I can hold in my hand and take with me outside to sit on my deck with a cup of coffee. I don’t do laptops nor make my phone a small small computer. Those two items are hard on hands that battle arthritis. And a desk top computer can’t go outside. haha You said that the book was 122 pages. If I were to print it out, would it take that many paper pages? Less or more? I have read your emails before and been interested, but that has been where it ended. This year has been one of major health changes .. (23 days hospital/ surgery/ Ostomy bag… all things changing what & how I eat, so I’m journaling that. One thing that I have found happens to me when the Lord is suddenly or out of the blue, speaking to me or ministering to me, is that I am suddenly in tears. My breath is caught in mid air until I take a deep breath. Sometimes, He will say: Breath Daughter. Breath. It might be the first 3 notes of a song… or, as with today, before I finished the first sentence of your email. So my focus goes to our Lord and I listen. Sometimes the song ministers to me. Sometimes there is a message in it He is giving me. When I first became a Christian, I use to journal. Writing down what He lays on my heart. Writing what I called, Love Letters, to members of my church. Then it seemed to drop off but 2 yrs ago, He told me that He was restoring some of my earlier ministering .. adding to others… and totally removing others, to be replaced with new ways. All of this to say, that today, when I read your email, I was in tears. So, I am interested in your course, I just am not knowledgable enough about technology to all of the terms and what they mean. So any words of wisdom would be appreciated. Once I understand how it works, I will be able to determine how God wants to lay it all out for me. I long to get back to journaling… praying… and to see if He is restoring or expanding the prophetic gifting He has given me. Thank you Helen for your obedience to the calling and gifting He has placed upon your life… and therefore on ours. God bless you and your family for the rest of this year and the entire new year. May His wisdom and discernment be poured out for every decision you will face. And may you have a deeper sense of His joy for you. I see Him dancing over you with seer joy and excitiment. Picking you up and dancing with you, in one minute and then dancing side by side the next. There are no words to express the joy I am seeing on His for you. Blessings.
Hello Marjorie, what a blessing you are! That was exactly what I needed to hear and I’m grateful. No doubt the Lord has freshness and ministry for you—your own unique gifts and treasure from the Father.
Keep doing what you instinctively know to do and watch as the encouragement and miracles unfold.
I can’t help you with printed materials except to say the PDFs can be printed. But my YouTube channel may be a blessing to you, you can see it here:
https://www.youtube.com/user/Helenzinoz
Thank you, Helen. As always, a timely and an explanation of the the new journey my wife Gwen are on. Having just returned last week from our mission trip, which was so fruitful, I am reminded that all was directed and anointed by our loving Father in this six week adventure!! On reflection, we stand in awe of all that God did; from healings to providing a person to get our vehicle started early one morning before travelling to a church to minister. Before leaving Australia I personally was doubting many things, feeling I had lost “the axe head” and at the point of cancelling the trip! But God’s hand was upon this time and a time of resurrection and restoration took place, enabling us to “go along for the ride” stepping into a new season and anointing!!! We realise that with God, all things are possible. Blessings, Roger.
This is so wonderful Roger, I feel excited with you!
Now is a season for the fullness of God to rest on you both. May you and Gwen continue in His grace and power and keep on dreaming of all the adventures he has ahead for you.
Wonderful fresh, powerful and prophetic insights Helen.. so needed for my husband and I this very day! Blessings to you.
From where I am in Europe, I say Goodmorning/ goodafternoon/goodevening desr daughter of the most high God, in Jesus Christ.
I tank you for this post; when I woke up this morning, I was sitting on the edge of my bed, still in a kind of sleeping mood. Then I started in my heart, before stepping out, to thank Father God, for: the new day, new strenght, new forgiveness, new things ( especially all the new) he will do today. I kept continuing mentioning new things.
After stepping out and sitting with a cup of coffee, just silent with Jesus, I was triggerd to open my mailbox. I was surprised positieve, because I realized by reading your post, that it was confirming what I was praying/ declaring before stepping out of the bed.
It is so beautiful and everytime amazing how the Holy Spirit lead and guide and move in us. Proving again that there is no geographic limitations in Christ. As His children and followers it doesn’t matter where on the earth we have dominion; we are all as His followers linked to one another by His Spirit.
Thank Jesus in you for confirming in the post of today what I was praying/ declaring (prophetically) this morning.
May His love and grace continue guiding you in all that you are in Him and doing for Him, in Jesus’ mighty name.
Love and blessings
Lucia
yes it is truly amazing, Lucia. No geographical boundaries! It is early evening here. thank you for the wonderful note
“For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19
Hi Helen, in a season of transition, this is a very encouraging message.
Thank you for sharing.
God Bless
wonderful, Simon
He is so full of grace!