"We must not forget that though God be our Father He is also our Sovereign, and that while we be His children, we are likewise His subjects." (A.W. Pink, Elijah) How often do we forget who it is that we are really addressing in prayer? Let's look at some of the role models of faith and how they prayed to their Father.
Role Models of Prayer
In Genesis 18:27 Abraham addresses God in prayer and says of himself that he is but "dust and ashes". In Daniel's vision of the glorious man in chapter 10, in verse 8 Daniel says that he had no strength left in him and his face became pale. In Isaiah 6:2 we read that even the seraphim in Heaven veil their faces before God. Before Moses approached the burning bush (Exodus 3), before the glory of our God, Moses hid his face and removed his shoes. He was on holy ground. In the garden before His arrest, Our Savior fell on His face before His Father in prayer.
Elijah's Prayer - Withdraw
In 1 Kings 18: 42-46 Elijah prays for rain. We are told that Elijah withdrew from the crowds to pray. He needed to clear his mind of the world. He needed to put all of his focus on the One to whom he was praying. So we should do the same. Jesus told us this in Matthew 6:6 when He instructed us to go into our closet and shut the door. We may not literally go into a closet but the point here is separation, separation from the world.
Pray with Humility
In verse 42 we are told how Elijah prayed. He prayed bowed down with his face between his knees. "Cast himself down upon the earth" is how the King James Version describes it. Before God he prays with humility and reverence. Often people like to quote Hebrews 4:16 that tells us to go boldly to the throne of grace but that doesn't mean that we should go before God without humility.
1 Peter 5: 6-7 says,
"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."
We know that before God we are unworthy of anything but when we recognize our unworthiness before Him and His glory, He hears us.
Pray for God's Promises
Elijah prayed for rain. God had already promised him that it would rain. Why should Elijah pray for something already promised? When we pray for God's promises, it helps us to recognize Who it is that has made the promise. Who it is that is our provider. James 4:2 reminds us that we don't have things because we don't ask for them. The Lord prayed, "They kingdom come, they will be done." Of course God's will would be done. Of course it was going to happen, but still Jesus prayed for it. When we pray according to God's will this is what it means. Pray always for God's promises to be fulfilled.
Pray Specifically
Another thing about Elijah's prayer is that it is very specific. Have you ever caught yourself praying in such a vague way that you might not even recognize the answer if it came? Prayer in the Gospels is always specific. We often pray that God would bless our friends and loved ones. But how do we want God to bless them? When we ask forgiveness for our sins are we specific? Do we prayerfully consider our sins and ask God to forgive them by name?
Pray Repeatedly
Elijah prayed repeatedly. Seven times Elijah prayed God's will. He didn't give up. He knew the promise and he prayed for it until it happened. Each time Elijah prayed he looked for the rain. He knew it was coming, but it would come in God's time, not his and so he prayed again until a tiny cloud was seen on the horizon. In Luke 18:1 our Savior reminds us to continue to pray and not lose heart, in other words, don't get discouraged. Remember our Lord is faithful.
Pray Fervently
Finally, Elijah's prayer was fervent. Just as James 5:17 tells us Elijah prayed fervently (sometimes translated earnestly). Hebrews 5:7 says that Jesus's prayers were accompanied with crying and tears. James 5:16 says that the effective prayer of a righteous man is a fervent prayer, one prayed with passionate intensity. The scripture often compares prayer to seeking, knocking, striving or crying. Prayer is not some bland thing we offer up to God in an off handed, bored sort of way. It is the outpouring of our spirit to Him.
A Man Like Us
When James speaks of Elijah he reminds his readers that Elijah was a man just like us. We often think of these great prophets of old as being such lofty examples of righteousness that we could never be like them, but that is not what James says. Elijah was a man like us, used by God powerfully, and so can we if we take some lessons from him. He is an example of effectual prayer.
For more on Elijah click here.
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