The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Kings 17:21-22,
"'Lord my God, let this boy's life return to him!' The Lord heard Elijah's cry, and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived."
The boy Elijah prayed for was a widow's son. The widow was the woman Elijah stayed with during a severe three year famine the Lord brought on Israel during Ahab's reign.
Elijah was a great prophet, one we are all familiar with. He did remarkable things for the Lord and was a faithful prophet carrying the Lord's messages to Israel. It was Elijah's prayer that invoked the Lord's attention and brought his intervention that led to the boy being brought back to life. Again, I note the Scripture could not me more clear that it was Elijah's prayer that led to the Lord raising the boy back to life.
Elijah asked the Lord and the Lord was willing to give the boy's life back to him as a result. Elijah had an audience with the Lord. Elijah's prayer was effective and the Lord was responsive. Was it because Elijah was a prophet that the Lord answered the prayer?
Is prayer only for prophets? Who does the Lord listen to? Whose requests have the opportunity to be granted by the Lord? James tells us believers, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." James 5:16. In the following verse he points to Elijah as our example of one whose prayers were effective. We, as believers, should look to Elijah as an example of effective prayer.
When James tells us it is the prayer of a righteous person that is powerful and effective, the first question should be "who is righteous?" Paul tells us in Romans 3:22, "righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." All believers in Jesus Christ have a righteous standing with God. All believers have the opportunity of powerful and effective prayer.
As such, Paul tells us to pray! "Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people." Ephesians 6:18.
Here is an incredible opportunity that only believers in Jesus Christ have at their disposal. Think of the possibilities and then pray!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
"'Lord my God, let this boy's life return to him!' The Lord heard Elijah's cry, and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived."
The boy Elijah prayed for was a widow's son. The widow was the woman Elijah stayed with during a severe three year famine the Lord brought on Israel during Ahab's reign.
Elijah was a great prophet, one we are all familiar with. He did remarkable things for the Lord and was a faithful prophet carrying the Lord's messages to Israel. It was Elijah's prayer that invoked the Lord's attention and brought his intervention that led to the boy being brought back to life. Again, I note the Scripture could not me more clear that it was Elijah's prayer that led to the Lord raising the boy back to life.
Elijah asked the Lord and the Lord was willing to give the boy's life back to him as a result. Elijah had an audience with the Lord. Elijah's prayer was effective and the Lord was responsive. Was it because Elijah was a prophet that the Lord answered the prayer?
Is prayer only for prophets? Who does the Lord listen to? Whose requests have the opportunity to be granted by the Lord? James tells us believers, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." James 5:16. In the following verse he points to Elijah as our example of one whose prayers were effective. We, as believers, should look to Elijah as an example of effective prayer.
When James tells us it is the prayer of a righteous person that is powerful and effective, the first question should be "who is righteous?" Paul tells us in Romans 3:22, "righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." All believers in Jesus Christ have a righteous standing with God. All believers have the opportunity of powerful and effective prayer.
As such, Paul tells us to pray! "Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people." Ephesians 6:18.
Here is an incredible opportunity that only believers in Jesus Christ have at their disposal. Think of the possibilities and then pray!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
No comments:
Post a Comment