We’re busy with 1 Kings 18. While I use Elijah as an example, please mirror your life in his, i.e. examine yourself.
Elijah certainly didn’t give up easily, but pressed through with the Lord. He didn’t hope that the Lord would come through for him – he made sure He would. He put himself in a position of least distraction so he wouldn’t miss what the Lord said to him.
The Lord probably led Elijah the way He leads us today by originally giving us an idea where we’re headed, and then He leading us step by step as we go along. Elijah knew the widow had to look after him, but perhaps didn’t have the details. He first asked the widow for a drink and then, as an afterthought, told her to make him bread. When she explained that it was her last flour he added as another thought that he should have the first, and at that stage still the only bread. Because he was completely focused on the voice of the Lord, he was able to follow His guidance. How about us?
The same happened on Mount Carmel. He needn’t write down the Lord’s instructions or memorise it, for he had the Lord right by his side. As he gave instructions with his mouth, his inner ear was attentive to the Lord. “Now tell them to wet everything with water.” Imagine Elijah stopped in his tracks and asked: “Could it be, have I heard right?” No he acted in faith that he knew what the Lord said, and that he heard the right voice. He knew what to expect. To accomplish this, we need to live close to- and know the Lord.
When Elijah told Ahab “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain,” (1 Kings 18:41), he knew the Lord has told him the rain is coming, probably through hearing the sound of rain, but he did not yet know how and when. “Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees,” (1 Kings 18:42). This was big stuff. Only at his word it would rain again and he needed to connect with the Lord earnestly on this one. Whilst praying he looked for results on his prayer every so often. Was there yet any evidence of what he believed? Do we do this?The only evidence he needed to announce the rain was a cloud the size of a man’s hand. Why? For the Lord had already told him the rain was coming.
Where do we stand? James compared our prayers with those of Elijah: The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. 17Elijah was a human being with a nature such as we have [with feelings, affections, and a constitution like ours]; and he prayed earnestly for it not to rain, and no rain fell on the earth for three years and six months (James 5:16b, 17 - Amplified Bible).
For our prayers to be as effective and powerful as Elijah’s we need to be right with the Lord; void of idols (such as materialism), unconditionally surrendered, in control of temptations i.e. not giving the devil any foothold, sold out with regard to time and effort and tuned in to His voice, i.e. looking out for- and expecting him to tell us something. Our prayers need to be earnest, heartfelt and continuous – not only in speaking, but also in listening.
Do you believe it to be possible? If it wasn’t, it wouldn’t have been in the Bible. We place limitations on God and we can lift them.
Lord, I really desire to change and be all you intended me to be.
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