Nehemiah Journey: Day 39 of 52 (October 14, 2021)

Consider the life of the prophet Elijah. We see in 1 Kings 17 he is authorized by the Lord to predict a drought for three and a half years. Later in 1 Kings 18 he shares the drought is ending. During the drought God met Elijah’s needs in some miraculous ways. Later in chapter 18 we see God defeat the prophets of Baal using Elijah to narrate the amazing victory.

In James 5:17–18 we read Elijah “prayed fervently 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 its fruit.” What an amazing testimony of the power of God. Elijah must have been such a unique servant of God.

Well, the bible says in the very first part of James 5:17 “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours.” He was not different from us, and he served the same God we serve. So what are we fervently praying for God to do? God has not changed, He is the same powerful God who brought down fire from heaven and consumed the sacrifice defeating the prophets of Baal. I am just not sure we are crying out to Him fervently the way Elijah did.

James 5:16 calls us to “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

Repent, and pray for one another. Simple formula. Are we following it? Same God, Same Power.