Pray Today

"Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervetnly that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore fruit." (James 5:17-18)

James was the half brother of Jesus, and he had earned for himself the nickname "Camel Knees" because of the callouses on his knees from praying. And through him God declares, "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:16b). It is definitely an encouraging word that he gives us in this scripture that no less a prayer warrior than Elijah was a regular human being. He did not have some extra prayer power that is not available to every child of God.

Elijah was not born with extra "prayer chromosones". He was a man with a nature just like us. And if he accomplished all that he did with what he had available, what should we be able to accomplish with the resources available to us? Have you ever really wondered why we spend so little time doing what is the most powerful resource at our disposal?

It is amazing to me when we work in a Muslim context on mission how many followers of that faith come to us and request prayer in Jesus' name. They have seen God send rain in answer to prayer.
In a trip into the village in the summer of '08 the harvest was languishing. When our team arrived the first order of business was a prayer request for rain. And we prayed for rain, "in Jesus' name." And within hours God had sent over 5 inches of rain. Word went out throughout the surrounding region that the rain makers were in town. Quickly we had to explain that it was only by the name of Jesus. God got all the glory.

We have seen God answer so many prayers when they are offerred in the context of believing faith. Wells that had run dry have water. The sick are healed. God is always as near to us as prayer. Elijah prayed it would not rain, and it did not for 3 and 1/2 years. Then He prayed again and it rained. It is a story of faithfulness in prayer worth reading in I Kings 17-18. Read it all and let God speak to your heart. The same opportunity of prayer is available to you as it was to Elijah and James.

"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up." Isa. 6:1)

Uzziah had been one of the truly great kings of God's people. He had led them in a time of propserity and peace. Not only, that, however, Uzziah had been Isaiah's good friend. So when we read this verse of scripture, it is a time of great future uncertainty for Isaiah, as well as a time of personal grief. And the prophet says in that moment of difficulty, "I saw the Lord."

God is always right on time, everytime. I remember a verse that went something like this:
I walked a mile with pleasure,
She chattered all the way;
But I was none the wiser,
For all she had to say.

I walked a mile with sorrow,
Not a word said she,
But O the things I learned from her,
When sorrow walked with me.

Look at the result of this time of difficulty in Isaiah's life. "I saw the Lord." God visited with HIm and reminded him of something very important. The future hope of God's people did not rest in a political leader. Notice that when Isaiah saw the Lord, God was still seated on His throne. Uzziah's death did not take God by surprise. Nothing ever does.

Today, remember, whatever the difficulties of your life are, God is not suprised or even anxious. He is not wringing His hands in heaven saying, "I wasn't expecting this." He is still in control. Why don't you take a moment and thank Him that He can handle your situation, if you will trust Him.