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Do you pray? Do you believe God hears your prayers? Do you think God cares whether you pray or not? He already knows your thoughts so why should you pray? Do you trust He will answer? I will share with you that I have doubted at times. If I let the devil influence me he will press my doubts as far as he can. The devil will attempt to convince us all this talk about God and Heaven and Jesus and prayer and worship and service, etc. is all to wild to be true! John Maxwell, a pastor and motivational speaker, once said "It’s normal to doubt. It shows you have a brain." Consistent prayer will remove your doubts and allow you to trust God to do what He says he will do - even in the face of tremendous odds should as those Elijah faced.
In 1 Kings 18, Ahab brought over 400 prophets to Mount Carmel. He was intent on showing that Elijah’s God was no match for the priests of Baal. Baal stood for fertility and strength but also for lust of power and sexual desires and pleasure. God’s prophets were often despised by the people just as Christians who share the Good News today are often ridiculed. In the United States, our culture is moving away from God. Our leaders have allowed God to be taken out of schools, courthouses, and even the term "In God We Trust" is disappearing from our currency. Why do you think groups today, just like in Elijah’s times, do not want to hear about God?
I think it’s simple. People do not like to be reminded their lives are full of sin and corruption. Powerful governments today, just like with Ahab, do not want God’s people to be able to influence people in doing what is godly because it undermines their power. What would your government’s response be if you were to rise up and question their laws and policies if they are not based on God’s laws and policies? What can we do? Simple answer to a complex question: pray. We can all pray that people will turn to God for some of the world’s most difficult problems. God does answer. Trust Him to answer your prayer.
The prophets of Baal must have been a sight to Elijah that day. On the mountain top, they were wailing for Baal to ’answer us’ as they danced wildly around the altar they had made for their sacrifice! Elijah began to mock them and challenge them! By challenging the priests, Elijah was challenging Baal to actually do something! But, there was no answer from Baal. The priests began to cut themselves with knives and swords and chant louder and louder. This continued throughout the day! But, there was no answer from Baal. But Elijah prayed to the Lord and God flashed fire from heaven. God answered Elijah’s prayer on the spot.
But what happens when you pray for something and there does not appear to be an instant answer like with Elijah? Does this cause you to wonder if God has heard you? Does this cause you to doubt? God may not answer your prayer in such a dramatic fashion as He did for Elijah, but He does answer. Maybe He answers and you don’t hear. Maybe He answers and you don’t want to hear. God will provide if we only look. Many times the answer to our prayer is not exactly what we wanted to hear.
Have you prayed for money but God showed you real treasure in family and friends?
Have you prayed for guidance but God gave you the opportunity to lead others?
Have you prayed to be first but God showed you how to be humble?
Have you prayed for peace in your life but God brought you through the storms?
We have to trust Him to do what is right for us. We may not like the answer. Jesus made it possible for us to go directly to God in prayer. When Jesus died on the cross, the tapestry in the Temple was ripped into two pieces! This demonstrated to us that we could approach the Holy throne of God with Jesus as our intercessor. Do not view prayer as what you do once you are in trouble. That is backwards. Pray first for God’s guidance because God’s power is supreme. Prayer makes sense. It is our most powerful method in communicating with God. Trust Him to answer. Listen for His answer.
Papa Joe Mac's Commentary:
Do you pray? Do you believe God hears your prayers? Do you think God cares whether you pray or not? He already knows your thoughts so why should you pray? Do you trust He will answer? I will share with you that I have doubted at times. If I let the devil influence me he will press my doubts as far as he can. The devil will attempt to convince us all this talk about God and Heaven and Jesus and prayer and worship and service, etc. is all to wild to be true! John Maxwell, a pastor and motivational speaker, once said "It’s normal to doubt. It shows you have a brain." Consistent prayer will remove your doubts and allow you to trust God to do what He says he will do - even in the face of tremendous odds should as those Elijah faced.
In 1 Kings 18, Ahab brought over 400 prophets to Mount Carmel. He was intent on showing that Elijah’s God was no match for the priests of Baal. Baal stood for fertility and strength but also for lust of power and sexual desires and pleasure. God’s prophets were often despised by the people just as Christians who share the Good News today are often ridiculed. In the United States, our culture is moving away from God. Our leaders have allowed God to be taken out of schools, courthouses, and even the term "In God We Trust" is disappearing from our currency. Why do you think groups today, just like in Elijah’s times, do not want to hear about God?
I think it’s simple. People do not like to be reminded their lives are full of sin and corruption. Powerful governments today, just like with Ahab, do not want God’s people to be able to influence people in doing what is godly because it undermines their power. What would your government’s response be if you were to rise up and question their laws and policies if they are not based on God’s laws and policies? What can we do? Simple answer to a complex question: pray. We can all pray that people will turn to God for some of the world’s most difficult problems. God does answer. Trust Him to answer your prayer.
The prophets of Baal must have been a sight to Elijah that day. On the mountain top, they were wailing for Baal to ’answer us’ as they danced wildly around the altar they had made for their sacrifice! Elijah began to mock them and challenge them! By challenging the priests, Elijah was challenging Baal to actually do something! But, there was no answer from Baal. The priests began to cut themselves with knives and swords and chant louder and louder. This continued throughout the day! But, there was no answer from Baal. But Elijah prayed to the Lord and God flashed fire from heaven. God answered Elijah’s prayer on the spot.
But what happens when you pray for something and there does not appear to be an instant answer like with Elijah? Does this cause you to wonder if God has heard you? Does this cause you to doubt? God may not answer your prayer in such a dramatic fashion as He did for Elijah, but He does answer. Maybe He answers and you don’t hear. Maybe He answers and you don’t want to hear. God will provide if we only look. Many times the answer to our prayer is not exactly what we wanted to hear.
Have you prayed for money but God showed you real treasure in family and friends?
Have you prayed for guidance but God gave you the opportunity to lead others?
Have you prayed to be first but God showed you how to be humble?
Have you prayed for peace in your life but God brought you through the storms?
We have to trust Him to do what is right for us. We may not like the answer. Jesus made it possible for us to go directly to God in prayer. When Jesus died on the cross, the tapestry in the Temple was ripped into two pieces! This demonstrated to us that we could approach the Holy throne of God with Jesus as our intercessor. Do not view prayer as what you do once you are in trouble. That is backwards. Pray first for God’s guidance because God’s power is supreme. Prayer makes sense. It is our most powerful method in communicating with God. Trust Him to answer. Listen for His answer.