The Prayers of One Person

By Will Davis, Jr.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. 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 earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit. James 5:16-18

Prayers matter…specifically, your prayers matter. You do not have to be some spiritual giant to move Heaven with your prayers. Pray, believe, and then watch God work.

The point of James’ teaching is not that Elijah was a super-human pray-er. His point is rather that Elijah was just like us. And if a man with the same nature as you and I can shut up the heavens with his prayers, then we can too.

Sure Elijah had great faith, but that is something that you and I can grow into. Faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by the Word of Christ.

I wonder if you would be willing to take this verse to heart today and raise the level of your praying. I mean really raise it. Raise the frequency, the intensity and the expectation.

I can promise you that the limits you feel in your prayers are not on God’s end. He is ready to move Heaven and earth in answer to your prayers. If there is a holdup in your prayers, it is on your end.

Let’s end that today. Right now.

No more feeble praying. No more drive-by prayers. No more safe and no-faith-required praying.

Let Elijah, a man just like you, be your example in prayer. What do you have to lose? Pray.

Lord God, help us to pray with the fury and faith of Elijah. In Jesus’ name . . .