We all know the story in 1 Kings 18, of Elijah who faced the prophets of Baal and gave the people a choice, to choose God or Baal. Elijah quietly built an altar to God which Elijah drenched with water and God set it alight with blazing fire but the alter of Baal would not burn. Elijah was one man against 950 prophets, but Elijah’s faith was a trusting, submissive, surrendered faith, a faith that knew without a doubt, that God is in FULL control, that the God He called upon, would not fail!
That story was not the end of it. Elijah told the people to seize the false prophets and take them to the valley to destroy them. Sometimes we need to destroy those things that hinder God’s glory and faith in our lives! Elijah told King Ahab to “eat and drink, for there is the sound of heavy rain.” (v. 41) IMAGINE seeing a clear, sunny sky during a drought when there has been NO rain for some years, but being told rain is coming? Maybe your life has been like a drought…NOW is the time to pray in faith for Christ’s rain of blessings and help to pour down upon you!
Elijah had told King Ahab that there would be heavy rain, and in faith, Elijah could hear the rain coming. Can you exercise your faith like that and see/hear the answers to your prayers even as you pray? Elijah prayed and prayed! He continued his actions in faith — NO DOUBTING — that God would answer his prayers. James 5:16b – 18 speak about Elijah’s faith: – “…The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.”
Precious Father, dearest Jesus, please help me to have a submissive, surrendered faith like Elijah had, who could experience a drenched altar burning and who could hear and smell the rain before the nation even underwent it. Help my faith to grow, to burn like that altar, to blossom in the rain, and to have faith that You can do miracles in my life even this day, when I trust and believe that You are in control. Amen
Myrtle Turunen