James 5:17-18 “Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.”
It overwhelms me to see how God uses Elijah’s prayers to do this miraculous thing in Israel. How does one become such a powerful person of prayer? There seems to be extraordinary communication between Elijah and God that goes beyond most prayer seen in our personal lives and our churches.
It is true that Elijah was a mighty prophet. Yet, this time I am struck by the words in James, “Elijah was as human as we are.” That is, he was a man born in sin with the weakness of flesh, the worldly pressures, and the onslaught of temptations just like us. So, what sets Elijah apart in his prayer life?
One aspect of Elijah’s powerful prayer life comes from knowing God’s promises. Elijah places his confidence in the promises of the Lord and prays! Here, Elijah is praying in accordance to God’s promises found in Deuteronomy 11:13-17. God speaks these words to Israel, “If you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today…then I will send rain on your land in its season…” (Deuteronomy 11:13,14). Elijah did not make up some judgment against God’s people in his own strength or wisdom. Elijah prayed the very will of God knowing it would be accomplished, because our God is faithful to His covenant.
Every time we pray, let us set our hearts to seeking the God of Scripture in a fresh way. Let us pray with a heart aligned with the Word of God and the purposes of God. When a righteous man prays scripture back to God, that is powerful and effective.
Prayer: Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits! You are a faithful God who promises to satisfy our desires with good things and renew us like an eagle in flight. Today, direct our prayers to align more completely with the precepts and promises of Scripture. We seek Your kingdom first, not our own personal comfort and routine prayer lists. Give us pure motives in asking, knocking, and seeking. We long to soar, in Jesus name, Amen.
