FRIDAY August 14, 2026
Earnest 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
James pointed believers to the well-known prophet Elijah because he was a great example of a man whose prayers were powerful. Yet he was a mere man just like them. He had great faith and prayed earnestly. What happened in answer to his prayers? God caused the weather pattern to change––it did not rain for three and a half years! Then he prayed once more and it rained, causing the earth to produce its fruit.
Sin, selfishness, doubting and pride are some of the hindrances to prayer. Listen to the obviously self-righteous prayer of a Pharisee who thought he was so much better than anyone else:
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess’ ” (Luke 18:10-12).
In comparison, listen to the tax collector’s humble prayer:
“And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ ” (Luke 18:13)
Who do you think God listened to? As we pray, we must come to God in humility, not in pride. I believe, if we pray humbly in private, we will stand boldly to pray in public. This is a very critical time in history, and the Church cannot be silent. We must awaken to the call to pray––in our homes, schools and churches––so that God will move among us.
Those prayers that awaken God must awaken us; those prayers that stir God must ‘stir us to lay hold of God’....
~Thomas Goodwin~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
