February 6, 2017

1 Kings 18:37 “Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”

This is Elijah during his confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. God will answer him by sending fire to consume his sacrifice rather than the one of the other prophets. It seems to me that we are most often compelled to pray when the physical health of someone we care about is compromised. We all seem to understand this type of pain and are motivated to have it relieved. Maybe what makes Elijah stand out is that his prayer is not directed towards his own benefit nor the physical well-being of the people but that they “will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” While this is followed by a great act of God’s power we will see later on how successful that act was in turning hearts. Still, what might God do in and through us if we did what we do each day with the prayer that it would help others to know God and give their hearts to him? This week, where and when might you pray such a prayer?