"At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: 'O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.'"(1 Kings 18:3637)
Elijah's prayer was answered in a mighty show of God's power. "Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, and the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, 'The Lord, he is God! The Lord-he is God!' "(1 Kings 18:38-39) The contest between God and Baal was over, and God was victorious. The people turned their hearts back to God and acknowledged Him as Lord. Elijah's prayer had been answered and the glory belonged to the Lord.
The key to the prayer of Elijah, was that he was making a request which was in the will of God. God wants us, as believers, to make sure our prayer requests are of eternal value, and will turn the hearts of unbelievers toward the Lord. We need to constantly evaluate the requests we are making of God to be sure we are asking according to His will. The supernatural intervention of God, in response to the faithful and believing prayer of Elijah, resulted in changed hearts and lives. The same can happen in the prayers which we offer on the behalf of the lost friends and relatives in our lives.
Remember the four points that are the keys to Elijah's prayer. First, we must acknowledge God as Lord, and second, we must remember that we are His servants, called on to do His will. The third thing to remember is to obey completely, according to the command of the Lord. Our leaving the result to the Lord is the fourth thing to remember, and then God will reveal Himself so hearts will be turned toward Him. God gives each of us an opportunity to glorify Him and display His power, when we lift the lost to Him in prayer.
Christmas is the perfect time to lift prayers to God on behalf of our unbelieving friends and relatives. This is the chance to be a part of placing the perfect gift of Jesus Christ into someone's life. Get in on God's supernatural work and intercede for someone's life.
Merry Christmas,
Jo