Pray according to faith, not circumstances.

Devotion for the day

Text 1 kings 18:41-42

Theme: Pray according to faith, not circumstances.

Good morning dear brothers and sisters, hope you’ll had a good nights rest.

Did you have your breakfast? Why don’t you grab a cup of coffee as you study God’s word for the day?

When we read our text today we get the impression that Elijah actually heard the rain pouring down, or at least the thunderous rumblings of an approaching storm.

So what was the sound? Well, I believe that Elijah was hearing the sound of God’s voice and the promise he had made that if Elijah went to Ahab, then He would send rain. In fact, the Hebrew word that is translated “sound here is translated “voice,” Or refers to the sound of a voice, in other places in scripture.

Elijah was certain that rain was coming, because he was claiming the stated promise of God.

And he claimed that promise through prayer.

There had been a drought for weeks in the Midwest farming community, so some farmers arranged to gather in a little church and plead for rain. The day appointed for their small church to pray dawned cloudless, with no sign of rain. The people gathered and the pastor looking at the congregation he announced that they would have benediction and go home. The other farmers got upset and confronted the pastor after the service. “Why are you sending us home without praying for rain?” they wanted to know. “Simply enough,” replied the pastor. “You obviously aren’t expecting God to answer. None of you brought an umbrella.”

Elijah not only prayed, but he expected an answer. Before the clouds formed or the thunder boomed, he heard the “sound of abundance of rain.” He knew that he was praying according to the will of God and he was confident, before any external evidence could confirm his faith, that God would supply the rain He promised. Elijah’s command to Ahab was based on the assurance of God’s answer, not the whims of nature

The word of God tells us to pray without doubting) James 1:6). When we come to God, knowing that we are asking according to His will, we don’t have to be intimidated by our circumstances. We can have the confidence that when the time is right, God will answer.

We need to act according to His promised answer, not according to our fearful uncertainties.

Dear beloved as you pray, don’t look around you; look above you. Real answers to prayer don’t come from the situations we find ourselves in. Real answers come from our Heavenly father.

God’s call to a task includes His strength to complete it