Short Meditations: The Power of Prayer

James 5:17-18 (NLT)

“Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.

Elijah is a dude with awesome power in prayer. He can pray for drought of three and a half years, and he can pray for rain after that. When he prays, he prays earnestly bending to the ground with his face between his knees (1 Kings 18:42). This is a picture of a woman in birthing position. Elijah was basically praying in labor! Even so, Jesus prayed before his arrest with sweat like drops of blood (Luke 22:44).

Prayer is not just wishful thinking, it is a serious conversation with the Lord to ask about His will, not our will – which is mostly selfish in nature. Elijah apparently prayed seven times, and God answered his prayers (1 Kings 18:43-44). There is something in doing it seven times, for it is the number of completion or perfection. So when we pray, we do it earnestly and completely. It is not because we want to twist God’s arm, or that the Lord doesn’t hear, or because it is His requirement, but simply – it is a God thing to commune with Him and fellowship with Him in our prayers, and then God answers our prayers in His perfect time. Are you laboring in prayer yet? Be joyful, God will not tire you waiting.