Text:
James 5:17-18 (ESV)
17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.
18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
Observation:
Yesterday I wrote about, “Are You Praying Kingdom Prayers”. Today, I want to share with you how God has been working in me through a series of events that intensified five days ago.
I set a goal in late January while I was vacationing in Hawaii prompted by a 4 day devotional series “One Word Goals”. On February 7 I committed to the one word goal of “BE”. My focus and filter has been this one word goal.
I woke up early last Friday morning, and decided not to go back to sleep, but to “Be prayerful”. I cried out to the Lord in prayer about many things for a long period of time. I was able to sing this song truthfully.
O the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God,
I commune as friend with friend!
I started a new document that I named, “Morning Prayer”. I have been writing in that journal, and praying before I get out of bed each morning for the past five days.
On Sunday morning my computer network was not working so I read from 2 of my devotional books. I was prompted by the Spirit of God to pray for my family and friends. The prayer I prayed was Ephesians 3:14-19. Then, I was prompted to send to 15 people a text message with that prayer. I’m glad I did because I got wonderful feedback of how the prayers were appreciated, and met a pressing need.
One of my friends responded to the prayer I sent her with this comment, “Thank you for your prayers for me. May they cause God to bless you ten fold”. Well, praise the Lord, I have already been blessed more than ten fold.
It pays rich dividends to pray for others. When you pray, God works from His throne in heaven, and He works through you. I just sent a prayer up to the Lord for a dear friend; why don’t you pray for someone the Lord is laying upon your heart, and tell them you prayed for them. Let us pray without ceasing.
Prayer:
Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Father, I’m so thankful that prayer works; that you are a God who hears, and answers the prayers of Your people.
Father, stir the hearts of your people until we are set on fire to pray faith filled prayers; prayers that are righteous; prayers that come from a fervent and earnest heart. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
