Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
VICTORY THROUGH FASTING AND PRAYER
1Kings 18: 21-39Verse: 37 O Lord answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord our God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.
I Kings 18 tells us that three years of drought has made life difficult for Israel during the time of King Ahab. God sent Prophet Elijah to reveal himself to Ahab because it was time to bring rain back to earth again. But it is not just going to rain. The rain is going to accompany a battle between the prophets of Baal and the Sovereign God. The draught came in Israel because Ahab has abandoned the commandments of the Lord, because of the influence of his wife Jezebel who was a strong Baal worshipper.
Elijah addressed the people with two important questions: “ How long will you waver and falter between two gods limping back and forth”.” It is time for you to choose as to whom you will serve”. Far too many people even today falter between faith in Jesus and their own idols. The gods of comfort, pleasure, family, prestige, wealth, like those, pull people away to gods of conveneince, instead of true God who is their sustainer.
Israleites agreed to Elijah's challenge to sacrifice bulls on two separate altars and offer prayers at first by 450 prophets of baal and then Elijah alone on the other side to true God, and which ever god answers and consume the sacrifice will be the accepted and served by the whole Israel from then on. Here is something important happens. Elijah prayed to God the almighty with a sincere and faithful heart., “ Let it be known that you are the God of Israel.” In James Ch: 5 we read,” Eljah was a man just like us, he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain for three and a half years, and again he prayed and the heavens gave rain and the earth produced its crops”.
Fasting and prayer can help us hear God more clearly. Together fasting and prayer can transform our life to victory and a richer , more personal experience with God.
Lord our God, we are sorry for limping between true God and idols of convenience. Fill us with your strength that we may be able to live a life of victory in Jesus. Amen.
Thought for the Day
God sent his only son to us, in an effort to turn our hearts. The word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His Glory.
Dr.John K.Thomas Tabor MTC Staten Island