TODAY IS…

a superb day to pray with the confidence of Elijah

“And Elijah said unto Ahab, get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.”  1 Kings 18:41 KJV

When Elijah told Ahab to go get something to eat and drink before the rainstorm hit, Ahab probably thought Elijah was delusional. After all, there was no evidence of rain anywhere to be seen. Still, Elijah had put on a pretty good demonstration when he prayed for God to send fire to burn up the bull that was offered in sacrifice, so perhaps he was onto something.

Elijah, meanwhile, climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and prayed. He had brought his servant with him when he went there.

“’Go and look toward the sea,’ he told his servant. And he went up and looked. ‘There is nothing there,’ he said. Seven times Elijah said, ‘Go back.’” (1 Kings 18:43 NIV).

The servant did as he was instructed, of course, but around the sixth time that he went to look, he was probably a little skeptical that anything was going to happen at all.

“The seventh time the servant reported, ‘A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea’” (1 Kings 18:44a NIV).

The servant probably didn’t think much would come from such a tiny cloud, but Elijah certainly felt otherwise.

“So Elijah said, ‘Go and tell Ahab, hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’” (1 Kings 18:44b NIV).

Sure enough, “In a little while the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy shower and Ahab rode and went to Jezreel.” (1 Kings 18:45 NASB).

You see, the entire time that Elijah was praying he knew that the prayer would be answered. He just did not know when. The reason he had his servant keep checking was not to verify that a storm was coming because Elijah already knew that. He simply wanted to give Ahab ample time to go to Jezreel so he did not get caught in the worst of it.

Jesus spoke plainly and clearly on this very subject to His disciples when He said, “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.” (Mark 11:24 NASB).

When you pray, remember the confidence of Elijah and the words of Jesus Christ.

“’Have faith in God,’ Jesus answered.” (Mark 11:22 NIV).

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson