Day 33 – HUMBLE, PERSEVERING PRAYER

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Moment of Transformation:

  • Pray for the items listed in your Transformational Journal
  • Pray for the transformation of the five individuals/families you chose
  • Pray that church members will be transformed by Christ’s HOPE
  • Pray for your transformation in order to become a reconciler

HUMBLE, PERSEVERING PRAYER

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. James 5:17-18 NKJV

Important lessons are presented to us in the experience of Elijah. When upon Mount Carmel he offered the prayer for rain, his faith was tested, but he persevered in making known his request unto God.

The servant watched while Elijah prayed. Six times he returned from the watch, saying, There is nothing, no cloud, no sign of rain. But the prophet did not give up in discouragement. He kept reviewing his life, to see where he had failed to honor God…. As he searched his heart, he seemed to be less and less, both in his own estimation and in the sight of God. It seemed to him that he was nothing, and that God was everything; and when he reached the point of renouncing self, while he clung to the Saviour as his only strength and righteousness, the answer came. The servant appeared, and said, “Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand.” 1 Kings 18:34.

We have a God whose ear is not closed to our petitions; and if we prove His word, He will honor our faith. He wants us to have all our interests interwoven with His interests, and then He can safely bless us; for we shall not then take glory to self when the blessing is ours, but shall render all the praise to God. God does not always answer our prayers the first time we call upon Him; for should He do this, we might take it for granted that we had a right to all the blessings and favors He bestowed upon us. Instead of searching our hearts to see if any evil was entertained by us, any sin indulged, we should become careless, and fail to realize our dependence upon Him.

Elijah humbled himself until he was in a condition where he would not take the glory to himself. This is the condition upon which the Lord hears prayer, for then we shall give the praise to Him…. God alone is worthy to be glorified.   

Ellen G. White, Our High Calling, p. 133 – May 17

Quote of the Day “Prayer is the link that connects us with God.” A. B. Simpson

Did You Know?

Following on his career as a prophet of Israel, Elijah received extraordinary honor in late prophetic and intertestamental writing that became the basis for the expectation that he would return at the opening of the Messianic Age.

Going Deeper

Elijah was not immune from the trials of life that all men face and at times was affected by man’s weaknesses (see on 1 Kings 19:4). Therefore, the success of Elijah’s prayer was not the result of any superhuman qualities, but of the grace of God. Jesus was tempted as all men are (see on Heb. 4:15) and “His humanity made prayer a necessity and a privilege” (SC 94).

Francis D. Nichol, ed., The Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1980), 542.

Question…

How can you follow Elijah’s example, clinging to the Saviour as your only strength and righteousness?

This Week’s Homework

  1. Memorize: “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:12 NKJV
  2. Take the invitation for the special outreach event, that the church will be hosting, to the five individuals/families that you are praying for.