The Power of Prayer

¹⁷ Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

¹⁸ And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

I sometimes wonder when my prayers seem unheard and unanswered for any length of time, if the prophets and servants of God mentioned in the Word, had some secret power that we don’t possess.

Why does it sometimes feel there is silence in the wake of earnest prayer? How long must we persist in asking for the same thing over and over again before we hear from the Father?

Are we not good enough to pray such big prayers? Are we missing something, a spiritual truth that is the key to unlocking that seemingly elusive formula to have our prayers answered swiftly?

Could it be sin in our lives that makes the Father turn His face away from us with a rebuke, “get yourself cleaned up before you bring your petitions”?.

So it reassures me to read James 5:17. It says that Elias (Elijah) was an ordinary person that was subject to the same temptations as we are, a nature like ours. I’m even more comforted because I’m certain he didn’t overcome all those temptations and fell in some. Yet the Lord answered his prayer to hold back the rain.

His prayer affected the whole earth, negatively, for a period of 3 years and 6 months. This was not a prayer to heal a cold or ask for a job. It was an impossible prayer, prayed in simple faith, by a mere man just like you and me.

And then he prayed again, for a reversal of his previous prayer and the Lord answered again and sent rain and the earth brought forth her fruit.

How much more then, does the Father hear the cry of His children under the Covenant of Grace. Persist in earnest prayer and don’t allow the enemy to give you reasons why that answer is not yet forthcoming. Some prayers will be answered in time, some answers are not even important but it’s the process He wants us to walk through that will bear fruit for His glory if we submit and are willing.

So I’m choosing to go back and pick up those prayers that I have allowed to collect dust over the years, prayers that have been neglected because I believed the lie of the enemy, that I had to overcome every sin and be ‘miss perfect’ before I qualify to receive. Jesus became the perfect sacrifice for everyone who chooses to believe and receive Him as Saviour & Lord.

He is faithful, and you will receive your answer sooner than you think. He is a God of suddenlies and works above man’s doctrines and the world system.  ‘The way it’s usually done’ is earthly but His ways are above our ways and His thoughts are above ours.

Pray those impossible prayers again and allow Him to glorify Himself through you.

In Him