Confident Praying
Now Playing: Do we truly believe in God's ability to answer ?
Topic: Prayer
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Elijah
Scripture: John 14:14 1 Kings 18:33-35
Confident Praying

1 Kings 18:33-35

And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, "Fill four waterpots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood." Then he said, "Do it a second time," and they did it a second time; and he said, "Do it a third time," and they did it a third time. So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.

Confident Praying

In the early days of our country, a traveler came to the banks of the Mississippi River. There was no bridge but it was early winter, and the surface of the river was covered with ice. He had no way of knowing, however, if the ice could bear his weight. Finally, after much hesitation and with many fears, he began to creep cautiously across the ice on his hands and knees. As he was about halfway across the river, he heard the sound of singing behind him. Looking back, he saw a man driving a horse-drawn load of coal across the ice. Here the traveler was—trembling, afraid the ice was not strong enough to bear him—and there came this man, his horses, his sleigh and his load of coal, confidently upheld by the same ice!

When it came time for God to respond to Elijah's prayer, Elijah demonstrated his confidence in God. He didn't simply build an altar and call down fire. Instead, three times he drenched the altar and the sacrifice with water until everything was saturated. Then he filled the trench around the altar with water as well. He was sure that God would not only answer, but answer in a powerful way.

Christians can have this same confidence. If we pray according to God's will, we have the assurance that God will answer, no matter how difficult our circumstances (John 14:14).

Is there something in your life that you've not prayed about because you fear it is impossible? Come to God with confidence. Remember, with God all things are possible—so pray accordingly.

Be confident; God is able.

(from W. Kroll)

The God Who Answers
Now Playing: Do we have doubts as to the wisdom and provision of God ?
Topic: Prayer
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Elijah
Scripture: 1 John 5:15 1 Kings 18:24
The God Who Answers

1 Kings 18:24

"Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God." So all the people answered and said, "It is well spoken."

The God Who Answers

A magazine cartoon showed a little fellow kneeling beside his bed for his bedtime prayers. He was saying with some measure of disgust, "Uncle Jim still doesn't have a job; Sis still doesn't have a date for the prom; Grandma is still feeling poorly?and I'm tired of praying for this family and not getting results." Admittedly, it would be discouraging to think that God doesn't answer our prayers.

But Elijah had no such doubts. If God is truly God, He will answer. And his confidence was well rewarded. Not only did God answer, but He answered in such a dramatic way that the people could no longer question who was really God. Even the things that don't normally burn, the stones and the dust, were consumed when God answered by fire (v. 38). In an unmistakable way, the Lord responded to Elijah's prayer.

The distinguishing mark of the Christian faith is that we have a living God who not only hears but answers our prayers. His ear and His heart are both attuned to our cry. His answers may not come at the time we want them, but they will come at the time when they will do the most good. He does not always answer in the way we expect, but He will always answer in the way that's best for us.

It's not always easy to trust God for the right answer at the right time, but it's always best. Our confident assurance is that if we ask according to His will, "we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him" (1 John 5:15).

Do not grow weary in your prayers. Seek to know God's will and then confidently pray for His response. The God who hears will also answer?at the right time and in the right way.

The prayer is up to us; the answer is up to God.

(from W. Kroll)

Fervent Prayer
Now Playing: How often do we look to the Lord in prayer ?
Topic: Prayer
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Elijah
Scripture: 1 Kings 17:20-22 James 5:16-17
Fervent Prayer

1 Kings 17:20-22

"Then he cried out to the Lord and said, "O Lord my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?" And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the Lord and said, "O Lord my God, I pray, let this child's soul come back to him." Then the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived."

Fervent Prayer

E. M. Bounds wrote, "What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more novel methods, but men whom the Holy Spirit can use?men of prayer, men mighty in prayer."

Elijah was such a man. When faced with a major crisis?the death of a young boy, the only child of a widow who had shown him much kindness?he immediately resorted to the most potent power he knew: prayer. Without hesitation, he cast himself upon the mercy of God and cried out for His grace to be extended to this young man and his widowed mother. With passion Elijah entreated the Lord, and He answered. It is no surprise, then, that when the apostle James looked for an example of fervent prayer, he chose Elijah (James 5:16-17). The prophet was a man mighty in prayer because he was fervent in prayer.

Too often Christians petition God with room-temperature prayers. They convey the facts, but they lack the fervor. They are sincere, but they don't sizzle. The same men and women who yell themselves hoarse at a sporting event become reluctant to raise their voice when speaking to God. Yet they expect an enthusiastic response from God to their halfhearted requests.

Find a time and place today where you can pour out your heart to God. Don't fake your emotions, but pray for those needs that have a strong grip on your spirit. If you have none, ask God to give you some. Let your approach to God reflect the urgency and the ardor of your concerns.

(from W. Kroll)