Day 4 – Faith and prayer

James 5:17-18 “Elijah 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. And then he prayed again and the heavens supplied rain and the land produced its crops.”

Elijah had an interesting life and a powerful ministry. He wasn’t any more special than you and me, though. In 1 Kings 18 we see that he experienced a great miracle. He had built an altar, placed a bull on it and soaked it with enough water to fill a trench. When he called on the Lord, God send fire from heaven and devoured the offering. This was after the prophets of Baal had called on Baal to do the same, and he had of course failed to respond. Elijah slayed 450 prophets of Baal that day. He prophesied that it would rain (and the drought-breaking rain came!); he then outran Ahab’s chariot for almost 20 miles. This is powerful, isn’t it?

Yet, in the very next chapter Elijah begins to fear and he spirals into a depression, begging God to take his life. A human being with a nature like ours. Where does faith come in for Elijah, for you and me? The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available (James 5:16). Faith needs prayer to carry it into fulfilment. Pray your answer, pray your solution. Pray, pray, pray!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, You are the same God who heard Elijah’s prayer and did marvellous miracles for him. Thank you that You hear my prayer. If my prayers are not based on faith, please show me, Holy Spirit. Show me what you see in my situation, and teach me how to pray the prayer of faith like Elijah did. Amen.