One of my most favorite places in Israel is that of Mount Carmel - the place where Elijah prayed fire down from heaven. The view over the Jezreel Valley is breathtaking.
Right next to our group was a large African contingency from Kenya who were singing (with their African beat) Ron Kanoly''s song "More Power."
Between the reading of the word and listening to these people cry out to God for more power - tears started to flow down my face wanting that same power in my life.
It was a surreal, unforgettable experience.
Elijah, after calling fire down from heaven, turned to his servant and said...
Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!” (1 Kings 18:41 NLT)
While the servant is gone Elijah climbs to the top of Mount Carmel and begins to pray with his face between his knees.
When his servant returns he sends him toward the sea (which was a difficult hike in itself) to look for the coming promise of rain.
Each time the servant returned - he said he saw nothing. Finally, after the 7th time he states - “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.”
That little cloud about the size of a man's hand became the beginning of a huge rainfall and blessing to the people of Israel.
My question to you right now is this - "What do you see?" Do you only see what the servant saw - more drought, more heat, and more misery? Or, do you see that God is up to something - even if only looks small like the size of a man's hand.
When you first look at this passage you may think, ‘There’s not much here.’ But look closer. Elijah was a man just like us. Yet he became man of prayer.
Elijah was fearful, sinful, weak, busy, distracted, just like you and I. But his prayers were heard. Elijah became convinced that God had heard and would answer his prayers. His prayers were means by which God would unleash supernatural power and accomplish things. Does that sound attractive?
There are two passages that are often misused about prayer. Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." Another is Matthew 18:19 "If two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven."
The sense of these verses is not that we are telling God what He should do. Nor is it that we agree with someone else about what we want God to do. Rather, it is that He has communicated to us through prayer what His will is.
As Elijah prayed for rain and continued seven times until it came, it wasn’t that God had to send rain because Elijah wouldn’t shut up about it. As Elijah prayed he became more and more sure that God was telling him He was going to keep his promise at that time.
Get it? Prayer isn’t lining up all people/ prayers to twist God’s arm to conform to your will. Prayer is the means by which we seek and ascertain His will.
It is the means of releasing what God already planned to do and has in store for you. And it is rejoicing in his promise to be faithful, a time when He lays things on your heart that are near to His heart.
This weekend our church is on a 3 day fast. We are seeking God's power and His presence. We are hungry for more of God. Perhaps you don't see anything right now but keep praying and keep looking for even the smallest evidence that God's power and blessing is coming your way.
For me, I see a cloud only the size of God's hand right now but that is enough. It is a sign that more is to come as we keep praying.
May God richly pour out His blessings and power over you in this season of life you find yourself right now.
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