Love That Never Fails

70. Persistent Prayer

Back in the early 2020's, collectively, our world was awaiting some good news. It seems that we have been holding our breath for many months, hoping for an end to the COVID 19 pandemic. We longed for normal life to return and yet day after day, we were kept waiting.

Many were waiting to see loved ones they had been separated from, others were waiting for business to resume. A large number were waiting in queues to apply for unemployment benefits, for the first time in their lives and families were waiting to see if they could survive on a greatly reduced weekly budget!

As Christians, we prayed for a glimmer of hope, but I wonder, did we pray as fervently as Elijah did? Did we look expectantly for the Lord's provision, even when many months passed by with little change?

After the triumphant moment when God sent fire from heaven, showing everyone that He was the one true God, Elijah had good news for King Ahab —the terrible drought was breaking!

"And Elijah said to Ahab, "Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain." So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.

"Go and look toward the sea," he told his servant. And he went up and looked.

"There is nothing there," he said.

Would Elijah give up and think that God had perhaps changed His mind? No, he continued waiting, hoping and praying:

Seven times Elijah said, "Go back."

The seventh time the servant reported, "A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea."

Even though this was a small cloud, Elijah knew that the tide was turning and God was about to pour down His blessing in the form of life giving rain!

So Elijah said, "Go and tell Ahab, 'Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.' "

Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. The power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel."
‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭18:41-46‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Look at how Elijah was able to say to King Ahab that 'there was the sound of a heavy rain'. He was expectant even before there was any cloud to see! Would you dare to be as persistent in prayer as Elijah was? If we are waiting, perhaps we need to speak words of faith and dig our heels in and pray like we've never prayed before! We will eventually see that glimmer of hope on the horizon just as Elijah did and finally experience the deluge of God's wonderful provision! Look with your eyes of faith and you too can smell the victorious outcome, way before it transpires!

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Let's pray:

Heavenly Father,

There is so much going on in our world that it's sometimes hard to have a positive outlook! I'm so thankful that I can read Your Word and be reminded that as I prioritise persistent prayer, You bring that glimmer of hope into view!

I pray for those who are grieving the loss of loved ones or struggling themselves with illness right now. Lord please bring them comfort and healing in a Jesus' Name.

Lord please bring hope to the hearts of all who are struggling and put a generous, compassionate spirit into those who are doing well. Lord let us all know that You are working while we wait, just as the cloud was forming as Elijah prayerfully waited, please let us 'smell the rain' even before it arrives! I put all my hope in You, the God who always provides!

Amen.