The story of Elijah can be our story; He prayed in faith and God answered. As time went on and Elijah learned to trust God more, he stepped up his prayers and God proved himself more than capable of answering those prayers.
The first time we meet Elijah, he prays that the rain will stop to show the wicked and powerful King Ahab that God is more powerful. We read in James, “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 earth for three years and six months.” [James 5:17] The Lord then miraculously provides water and bread for Elijah. This is reminiscent of the provision of the Israelites in the desert. When that provision ceases, God instructs Elijah to go to Zarephath where a woman provides food for Elijah, and miraculously, her supply of flour and oil is never depleted. Recognizing that the Lord’s provision each day is a miracle, Elijah prays a bigger prayer of faith and asks that the widow’s son will be restored to life, and the Lord answers that request.
Elijah’s progressive experience of faith prepared him for the next experience that would change his world. The final miracle we encounter is when Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal to have their gods produce fire from heaven. Elijah built his alter in a very public display and, emboldened by his previous experiences of answered prayer, asked for something big—something that would change history.
The Lord asks us to do the same. Begin by asking the Lord for little things, but do not stop there. In time you will be emboldened to ask God for big things like, “Lord, use my skills, my time, my resources to make disciples of a nation.”
Start with a small step. Sign up or login at MissionNext to see how you might participate in the Lord’s design for the nations.
