God’s response to fervent prayer

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fervent prayer“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth for the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit” (James 5:16b-18).

Elijah’s Stand

Elijah the prophet at God’s direction told King Ahab the rain would stop. (I Kings 17 and 18.  After announcing the drought, Elijah went into hiding. God miraculously preserved his life for three and a half years.

After that, famine fell across the land and everyone was struggling. Then, God directed Elijah to come out of hiding and tell King Ahab rain was coming. Before the rain, God had something to say to the nation. Everyone in Israel gathered, including King Ahab.

The test at Mount Carmel

They were to prepare their sacrifice but not start the fire. Elijah distinguished between Baal and God, inviting the Baal prophets to go first. If Baal was the true God he would send fire to ignite it. The contest would then be over; everyone should worship him. Baal never responded to his prophets pleas to burn up the sacrifice despite their valiant efforts.

Now Elijah prepared the sacrifice for God. Elijah spoke to God and everyone listened. “LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou are God in Israel, and that I am thy servant and that I have done all these things at thy word” (I Kings 18:36b). God’s response: “Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench” (I Kings 18:38).

Seeing this, the people worshiped God and destroyed the Baal prophets. The sin out of the way God was ready to replenish the earth and responded to Elijah’s prayers for rain.

Jezebel’s threat to Elijah

Back at home in the palace, after traveling through a drenching downpour King Ahab told Queen Jezebel the events of the day. Upon learning her favorite Baal prophets had been killed, Jezebel retaliated, sending Elijah a death threat. Now this spiritual giant of a man crumbled like dry bread. Intimidated, Elijah despaired of life. At this low point in Elijah’s life God strengthened him. He had more things for Elijah to do.

Elijah’s fervent prayers

No matter your personality, God has something for you to do for Him. Life after all is not about us but about what God wants to do using us as His instruments. Elijah had a flair for the dramatic but he also knew how to be quiet. Elijah had a mountaintop experience when he dramatically showed the people God is the true God; we should worship Him alone. When the queen threatened his life, Elijah temporarily forgot God made the valleys also. Through it all God answered Elijah’s prayers for the rain to stop and for rain to begin again. May God answer your cries to Him today and give you rest in your heart as He carries the weight of your burdens.

Shirley Logsdon

Fear Not Other Gods (#29)

 

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About Shirley Logsdon

I am the only child of Christian parents who wanted me to know God personally as they did. One night during church we watched a movie depicting a family in their home accepting Jesus as their personal Savior. I was nine and realized then my desire to make Jesus my personal Savior. With the full support of my parents, I met with the pastor and prayed to receive Christ. A few years later, several of us around the same age began classes for our confirmation to become church members. The privilege of taking communion was a special time for me. . During my teenage years I was outwardly complacent, but was inwardly rebellious. I developed the nasty habit of disrupting harmony in the household by nitpicking at anything and everything. A preacher came to hold revival services at my dad’s church and nailed me silently with looks. This helped me tremendously. I turned a corner and began to respect and obey my parents in attitude and actions. I survived these years through prayer (mine, my parents and friends). The love and tenacity of my parents and God’s grace got me through these years of upheaval. I readily identify with David the Psalmist when he said in Psalm 25:7, “Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to Thy mercy remember Thou me for Thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.” Because my parents provided a stable home life for me, when I went to college my Christian values remained intact. After completing my education in 1979, I started working. For a while, I worked at temp agencies, then I did odd jobs. I settled down in a secretarial position in 1986 working for a firm specializing in retirement plan administration. In 2007, I started working for a law firm, eventually becoming a knowledge management assistant in their law library, helping to alert attorneys to new business opportunities. I am a productive citizen of my country in large part because my parents prayed for me and made clear by word and example what they expected of me. I am extremely grateful to God for them. John 15:5 is my life verse: “I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.” I am confronted with this realization every day I live, and it helps keep me on the straight and narrow path. I met my future husband at church. After a few years of our two families getting acquainted, he and I started courting. We married at the church where we met, in the presence of many relatives and friends. We have been married for 29 years. My hobbies are reading, cooking, and canning or freezing what my beloved husband grows in the garden. Also, I thoroughly enjoy writing. While my writing has included poems, most of my writing has been letters to family and friends. I like to share my faith when I write and am fond of adding a Bible verse or two to help focus on the source of our life. Since I am now retired after working 38 years, I can concentrate on keeping up with birthdays. Something else I enjoy is studying the Bible, often with others. Blogging is a new form of writing for me. I am getting my feet wet and I’m beginning to enjoy the experience.

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