Monday Morning Manna
Monday, May 10
Monday Morning Manna
Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” 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, openly. 1 Kings 18:41, 42
Today’s topic is prayer and the subtopic is that you remain steadfast in prayer. The account as written in 1 Kings 18 is a fascinating one. In this passage the Prophet Elijah made his dramatic confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and following this encounter, after three years of drought, God opens up the clouds sending rain. Elijah knew that God was sending rain. He sensed it in his spirit, and he told the king that rain was coming. But he did not just go on his own way. God’s Word tells us Elijah went up to the mountain and he prayed until something happened. Imagine with me the thoughts going through Elijah’s mind. He says “God you promised the rain, I now hear of the abundance of rain, but I will continue to pray until what You have promised comes to pass”. Elijah PUSHED!
We’ve all heard the expression “PUSH” which means “Pray Until Something Happens”, but how many times do we neglect the until part of this expression. Yes we might pray but often that’s just where it ends because we’ve given up. We pray for something to happen and when it doesn’t happen when we think it should, we sit back in despair thinking God must not want to answer our prayer. Or maybe we think we have prayed about it, God knows about it, so now we just need to wait. But as I read the story about Elijah, I feel God telling me, “even if you know I am answering, don’t give up praying. Keep pushing. Keep praying. Keep seeking. Keep searching. Remain steadfast and pray until you see the fulfillment.”
Now in order to keep on praying we must understand how God answers prayers. Pastor Rick Warren has said that God always answers our prayers, but He does so in four possible ways: “NO, SLOW, GROW, and GO!” When we ask for something hurtful or unhelpful, our Heavenly Father who knows what is best for us, will answer “NO”. When it is not the right time, God answers “SLOW.” When things are not right or ready in you, God answers “GROW!” This is encouragement to know God wants to do something in our life before He moves the mountain and this is the appropriate answer to your prayer, because you are not yet ready. Finally, when your request is right, the timing is right, and you are right, God, in His love and wisdom, says “GO!”
I do not want to condemn you if you have given up and got discouraged when your prayers didn’t seem to be answered. I’ve done that too. But God does not condemn us. He is calling us to repent – to turn away from our way of doing things to His way.
May I encourage you today, as I encourage myself, too. Let’s not give up. Let us ask God to help us to keep praying until we see the answer.
Prayer for today: Lord, forgive me for the times when I have not persevered in prayer. Sometimes I stop right at the beginning because You did not answer right away. Father I know that time is in Your hands so I recommit my plans over to You. Have Your way and give me the patience I need to keep running this race until you say ‘GO’. Please help me today to remember the importance of perseverance. Help me to keep looking, even if it takes many times. Give me faith to keep watching to see your answer to my prayer. Amen.