So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.”
So he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.”Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”
—1 Kings 18:42–44 (NKJV)
Do you know that prayer can produce extraordinary results and solve complex situations? It may sound too good to be true, but Scripture shows it plainly. The difference between those who see answers and those who don’t is often not God’s willingness but our understanding and commitment to the rules of engagement in prayer.
Many people expect quick outcomes and give up when nothing immediate appears. Others approach prayer without scripture, faith, or persistence, as if it were an ATM that dispenses on demand. Elijah’s example is the corrective. He went to the top of Carmel, bowed down and put his face between his knees, then sent his servant to look toward the sea again and again. On the seventh time a tiny cloud appeared, and the rain followed. That posture and persistence show the discipline and expectation required for breakthrough.
If you have been disappointed in prayer, don’t conclude prayer is powerless. Instead, ask whether you have learned the technicalities: Are you praying with knowledge of Scripture, persisting long enough, and aligning your will with God’s? Learn to believe that prayer works, persist in it, and partner your faith with God’s Word. When you do, results follow—often in God’s timing and with eternal purpose.
So make a deliberate decision today: pray like Elijah. Enter seasons of concentrated, expectant prayer; study the Scriptures that relate to your need; refuse to be discouraged by slow beginnings; and keep praying until you see the change you are asking for. That steady faithfulness unlocks what sporadic effort cannot.
Today’s Rhema
Pray until you see the results you are looking for — that is where the power of prayer lies.
Confession for the Day
Thank You, Father, for revealing this dimension of prayer. I choose to pray until I see the change I seek, and I refuse to be discouraged. By faith I expect results, in Jesus’ name. Amen!
