Post by Betty on Mar 13, 2005 7:03:36 GMT -5
Title: A Sure Expectation
Author: Woodrow Kroll
1 Kings 18:41-42
Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink;
for there is the sound of abundance of rain." So
Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up
to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the
ground, and put his face between his knees.
A Sure Expectation
There had been a drought for weeks in a Midwest
farming community, so some farmers arranged to
gather in a little prairie church and plead for
rain. The day appointed for their small church to
pray dawned cloudless, with no sign of rain. The
people gathered and the pastor approached the
pulpit. Looking over the congregation, however,
he announced that they would have a benediction
and go home. The deacons were quite upset and
confronted the pastor after the service. "Why are
you sending us home without praying for rain?"
they wanted to know. "Simple enough," replied the
pastor. "You obviously aren't expecting God to
answer. None of you brought an umbrella."
Elijah not only prayed, but he expected an
answer. Before the clouds formed or the thunder
boomed, he heard the "sound of abundance of
rain." He knew that he was praying according to
the will of God and he was confident, before any
external evidence could confirm his faith, that
God would supply the rain He promised. Elijah's
command to Ahab was based on the assurance of
God's answer, not the whims of nature.
The Bible tells us to pray without doubting
(James 1:6). When we come to God, knowing that we
are asking according to His will, we don't have
to be intimidated by our circumstances. We can
have the confidence that when the time is right,
God will answer. We need to act according to His
promised answer, not according to our fearful
uncertainties.
As you pray, don't look around you; look above
you. Real answers to prayer don't come from the
situations we find ourselves in. Real answers
come from our Heavenly Father.
Pray according to faith,
not circumstances.
Author: Woodrow Kroll
1 Kings 18:41-42
Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink;
for there is the sound of abundance of rain." So
Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up
to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the
ground, and put his face between his knees.
A Sure Expectation
There had been a drought for weeks in a Midwest
farming community, so some farmers arranged to
gather in a little prairie church and plead for
rain. The day appointed for their small church to
pray dawned cloudless, with no sign of rain. The
people gathered and the pastor approached the
pulpit. Looking over the congregation, however,
he announced that they would have a benediction
and go home. The deacons were quite upset and
confronted the pastor after the service. "Why are
you sending us home without praying for rain?"
they wanted to know. "Simple enough," replied the
pastor. "You obviously aren't expecting God to
answer. None of you brought an umbrella."
Elijah not only prayed, but he expected an
answer. Before the clouds formed or the thunder
boomed, he heard the "sound of abundance of
rain." He knew that he was praying according to
the will of God and he was confident, before any
external evidence could confirm his faith, that
God would supply the rain He promised. Elijah's
command to Ahab was based on the assurance of
God's answer, not the whims of nature.
The Bible tells us to pray without doubting
(James 1:6). When we come to God, knowing that we
are asking according to His will, we don't have
to be intimidated by our circumstances. We can
have the confidence that when the time is right,
God will answer. We need to act according to His
promised answer, not according to our fearful
uncertainties.
As you pray, don't look around you; look above
you. Real answers to prayer don't come from the
situations we find ourselves in. Real answers
come from our Heavenly Father.
Pray according to faith,
not circumstances.
