We read in James 5:16, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
Immediately following this verse is one of my favourite verses in the Bible: "Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years" (v. 17).
"Elijah was a man just like us." I love that.
Elijah was a human being, just as we are.
When I think of Elijah, I think of Elijah versus the 450 prophets of Baal. The prophets of Baal sing and dance all day, crying out to their gods to send fire. But nothing happens. "Maybe your god is relieving himself," Elijah says.
Then moments later, one simple prayer and fire consumes the drenched altar. It's a beautiful picture of the power of our God in response to the prayers of His people.
What is remarkable when I think about a story like that, is the truth of James 5:17. Elijah was just a man. There was nothing extraordinary about him, except one thing: He served the extraordinary God.
And we would do well to remember that the God Elijah served is the same God we serve today. The same God who sent fire from heaven and who kept the earth from rain for three and a half years in response to Elijah's prayers is the same God we pray to today.
I pray that one simple truth inspires you today to be a man or woman of prayer.
When we read Acts, we see time and time again that when God does something miraculous, it's in response to the prayers of His people.
When God builds His church, it's in response to His people gathered together to pray.
When God grants His servants boldness, it's in response to their prayers.
When God breaks chains, wakes people up, and frees disciples out of prison, it happens as the church gathers to pray.
As the first Christian martyr Stephen is being stoned to death, he prays for those who are murdering him. Three chapters later, the terrorist Paul - who was overseeing Stephen's stoning - is completely transformed by Jesus on the road to Damascus and becomes one of the greatest evangelists and church planters this world has ever seen.
From terrorist to evangelist.
"The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
Do you believe that?
I hope you do.
***
There is certainly no shortage of things to be praying for in these days.
- The people of Afghanistan and Haiti.
- The upcoming federal election in Canada.
- The continuing impact of COVID19.
- The Dozois family in the loss of Michelle.
- Our church ministries re-launching in September.
- All those returning to school this fall.
- Your neighbours who don't know Christ.
Let me encourage you to pause what you're doing right now and lift these things up before the Lord in prayer. Let's ask Him to do what only He can do, and to do it in such a way that He gets all the glory!
Be blessed today.
- Mark
