Trusting God like Elijah

11/19/24 – 11/30/24

Lessons on Prayer

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  11/30/24

Yesterday, we read about some of the things we can learn from Elijah about prayer. Today we will look at three more principles we can learn from Elijah’s prayer life.

Fourth, Elijah prayed specifically. In 1 Kings 18 we see the boldness of Elijah’s public prayers asking God to start and stop the rain.

Fifth, Elijah’s prayers about rain demonstrate that we should pray expectantly. Elijah would have been surprised if God had not answered his prayer. Many Christians are surprised when God does answer prayer.

Finally, Elijah had a place where he met with God daily to pray. He took the lifeless body of the young man upstairs to his chamber for prayer. He knew God had met him there many times before and would again.

If you meet with God in a certain place during times of blessings, you will more surely go there when life’s storms assail you, and you will find strength. You do not need to have an entire room or any accessories, just a spot that you know is your meeting place each day with the Lord. He will not fail to show up.

Although the prayer Elijah prayed was not a perfect prayer, God, in His mercy and grace, honored it and gave life to the widow’s son. James 5:16 says, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Elijah’s righteousness, like ours, was from the Lord. His prayer life was empowered by following principles that allowed God to work out his difficulties and grant his requests.

Prayer: Father, help me to pray as effectively as Elijah. Help me to pray specifically and expectantly. Help me to find and make a place where I can quietly meet with You to pray every day. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Answer me, LORD, answer me so these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again” (1 Kings 18:37).