Regardless of your political affiliation, if I gave you the opportunity to speak personally with the President of the United States, you would be excited. Most likely, you would tell all of your friends of the experience. Even if you disagree with the President’s policies, you could use that time to share with him the errors that he is making. In this nation’s history, there only have been 44 presidents. As powerful as the American president is in the world, there is only one God, and He appointed all of the presidents and kings. Shouldn’t we find it even more amazing that we get to speak with God?
Prayer is such an interesting gift. When Jesus died, being our High Priest according to Hebrews, the temple veil split. In the Old Testament days of the tabernacle and the sacrificial system, the high priest was able to enter the Holy of Holies once a year. The Holy of Holies, the dwelling place of God on earth, was behind the veil, with man allowed to enter the other places of the tabernacle. That partition symbolized man’s separation from God because of sin. Because Jesus was punished for our sins and His innocent blood was shed instead of ours, it opened our access into the throne room of God, as long as we ask for His forgiveness. At any moment, we can speak to the One who created us through the gift of prayer. It is an amazing way to deal with stress, anger and frustration.
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 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. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
James 5:16-18
It is interesting who Paul chose as an example of a righteous man offering effective prayers. Elijah lived at a time when the Jews certainly were not following God’s Laws or hearing His voice. Instead, the country was being controlled by Ahab, Jezebel and their 850 false prophets. The prayer of Elijah created a three and a half year drought on the nation. Yet the most important part of that prayer to notice is that it created hardship for Elijah, as well. This wasn’t a prayer for wealth, ease of passage or physical healing. It was a prayer of sacrifice! Elijah wanted the Jews to return to the Lord with fervor, and knew that they wouldn’t look up until they had been humbled. With no rain, the food would not be plentiful. Remember, this was not like today when we have thousands of bottles of water on every shelf. Drinking water came from underwater springs and rivers. Rain water was a part of that supply. Elijah prayed for personal hunger and thirst, along with God’s saving hand!
Are you willing to suffer for the salvation of others as Elijah was? Jesus died for us to have the gift of prayer. Do you take it for granted? When we are angry, instead of lashing out, we are to pray. When we are frustrated, instead of worrying, we are to pray. When we are sick, instead of struggling, we are to pray. That doesn’t mean that God will take away the obstacles, but He will carry us through them. We know that prayer doesn’t change God’s heart, but it brings our hearts into alignment with His. That’s why we pray for His will to be done. Once we are able to have peace in the midst of turmoil, we are closer to His will. Yet the bulk of our prayer time should be spent praying for others. Jesus gave us a great example of that in John 17, though He was about to endure the cross. He mentioned His own needs, and then spent the bulk of His time praying for His disciples and all of the believers yet to come.
If there is a box under the Christmas tree with your name on it, you can’t get the benefit of the gift without opening it. In the same manner, you don’t get the benefit of the gift of prayer without using it. God gave the gift because He wants to hear the desires of your heart!
Yet you do not have because you do not ask.
James 4:3
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