Elijah: The Power of Prayer

Is it possible for our wishes to impact the Lord’s decisions? Perhaps it is a loved one suffering from an illness, and everything appears to be written in stone. Maybe a loved one has veered into worldly living, and the black sheep is so far from the fold that they might never come back. I guess the question boils down to this: Does prayer work? Can we influence the Lord? Are we wasting our time sharing our wishes? Is prayer merely for meditation and not mediation? I have heard some people suggest that prayer for the ill is pointless, prayer for the lost is suitable only for venting, and God is sovereign and not subject to listening. Does God’s sovereignty negate His love? (Psalm 34:4, 6, 15, 17, 19). Does God even support the idea of prayer as just meditation?

James 5:17-18, God inspired (2 Tim 3:16-17) James to emphatically say, “Prayer works.” Notice the example James uses: Elijah. Notice the qualifiers: “a man with a nature like ours.” Notice the accomplishment: “he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months, it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.” This thing that Elijah accomplished, declaring drought and inducing rain, is this possible? It is possible that God recorded it in both Testaments, as seen in James 5 and 1 Kings 17-18.

What is more impressive than declaring drought and inducing rain? How about controlling food rations? Which Elijah did for the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-16). What is even more impressive than that, perhaps raising one from the dead? So, Elijah did for the deceased son of the widow (1 Kings 17:17-24). All of these impressive, miraculous feats, and yet we read, “a man with a nature like ours.”

Do not get distracted by the fantastic. This is not a suggestion that mere, natural man can perform miracles - that was never possible apart from God, and God has ceased operating in such a way (1 Cor 13:8-12). Instead, get the point - prayer works. The good that can be accomplished by prayer is profound and plentiful. But will we be like Elijah? We are like him in the sense of nature, but are we like him in the sense of faith? Faith, which was evident through displayed persistence (1 Kgs 17:1, 12, 21; 18:42-44). Does God answer prayer? Absolutely. Are you praying?