“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. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.”
Elijah
One evangelist, when asked toward the end of his life what he would have done differently if given the chance, said he would have spent more time praying. Of all the traits James picks out of Elijah’s life, he chooses to highlight his prayer life. The power behind the anointed prophet was personal prayer. Elijah’s dynamic life flowed from earnest prayer. This incident from the Old Testament is written to highlight the importance and power of prayer in the live of every servant of God.
The Man
It is easy, when reading the Bible, to think of the characters as being more holy, perfect and powerful than you or me. Surely, that is part of the criteria for getting into the Bible? However, the Scriptures are full of ordinary people who were just like you and me. They had strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures, godliness and sin, pleasant memories and regrets, good friends and dysfunctional relationships. Elijah did not get his prayers answered because he was better than us. Far from it, James makes the point that Elijah was a man just like us. He had the same insecurities, weaknesses, flaws and challenges that we all face. He was human. Elijah’s life story is not in the Bible to impress and intimidate us. His story is there to encourage us. Like Elijah, we are ordinary people with an extraordinary God. If God answered Elijah’s prayers, He can answer our prayers.
The Prayer
Elijah prayed two very specific and public prayers. Everyone could see whether his prayers were answered or not. This is one reason why he prayed earnestly. Many times our prayers lack passion because the stakes are low. But when everything has been laid on the line, prayer becomes a life or death activity. We can get used to making small, irrelevant requests when we pray. But God is glorified by magnificent, impossible to answer prayers. He can do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power at work in us (Ephesians 3:20). So let’s get praying some bold prayers.
The Answer
We are told what Elijah prayed for, and we are told that God answered him. Simple. When did we make prayer more complicated than that? Jesus promised, “Ask and it will be given… for everyone who asks, receives.” (Matthew 7:7-8) When genuine, heartfelt requests are made by ordinary people, God answers.
Elijah saw great things, not because he was a great man, but because he was a praying man. He was no different to us and we should take encouragement from his example. Get praying!
