October 15 - Praying with Tenacity and Expectancy

1 Kings 18:41-45 we see an example of praying with tenacity and expectancy. (41 Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a rainstorm.”42 So Ahab went to eat and drink, but Elijah went up to the summit of Carmel.) He bent down on the ground and put his face between his knees. 43 Then he said to his servant, “Go up and look toward the sea.” So, he went up, looked, and said, “There’s nothing.” Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” 44 On the seventh time, he reported, “There’s a cloud as small as a man’s hand coming up from the sea.” Then Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Get your chariot ready and go down so the rain doesn’t stop you.’” 45 In a little while, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there was a downpour. After years of drought, God promised rain. In this passage Elijah is tenacious taking this promise to prayer. He is bending down on the ground with his face between his knees. The Tony Evans Study Bible Commentary references it to “the position of a woman in the travail of childbirth.” In other words, Elijah labored in prayer and looked in expectancy until the word that the Lord had spoken to him (“I will send rain on the surface of the land") was delivered (the sky grew dark with clouds and wind and there was a downpour.) In God’s marvelous, awesome, powerful, good, and gracious character has He spoken words (promises) to you? Let this passage above from 1 Kings encourage you to: Pray in humble submission and thankful adoration. Remember the Lord’s Prayer example. “Our Father who art in Heaven, Holy is your Name.” Pray the promises spoken to you tenaciously (persistently, asking again, and again, and again.) Pray looking, being expectant and watchful for the answer! Remember, “To the faithful, You (God) show Yourself faithful;” Psalm 18:25. May the Lord bless you as you do so and fulfill His words (promises) in your lives.