Prayer

unworthiness, instead of dwelling upon the worthiness of Jesus, His love, His merits,
and His great mercy, he will get away their shield of faith and gain his object; they
will be exposed to his fiery temptations. The weak should therefore look to Jesus,
and believe in Him; they then exercise faith.—(Early Writings, 73.)
God’s messengers must tarry long with Him, if they would have success in their
work. The story is told of an old Lancashire woman who was listening to the reasons
that her neighbors gave for their minister’s success. They spoke of his gifts, of his
style of address, of his manners. “Nay,” said the old woman, “I will tell you what it
is. Your man is very thick with the Almighty.”
When men are as devoted as Elijah was and possess the faith that he had, God
will reveal Himself as He did then. When men plead with the Lord as did Jacob, the
results that were seen then will again be seen. Power will come from God in answer
to the prayer of faith.—(Gospel Workers, 255.)
Elijah’s prayer on mount carmel was answered dramatically.—Reminding
the people of the long-continued apostasy that has awakened the wrath of Jehovah,
Elijah calls upon them to humble their hearts and turn to the God of their fathers, that
the curse upon the land of Israel may be removed. Then, bowing reverently before
the unseen God, he raises his hands toward heaven and offers a simple prayer. Baal’s
priests have screamed and foamed and leaped, from early morning until late in the
afternoon; but as Elijah prays, no senseless shrieks resound over Carmel’s height.
He prays as if he knows Jehovah is there, a witness to the scene, a listener to his
appeal. The prophets of Baal have prayed wildly, incoherently. Elijah prays simply
and fervently, asking God to show His superiority over Baal, that Israel may be led to
turn to Him.
“Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel,” the prophet pleads, “let it be known
this day that Thou art God in Israel, and that I am Thy servant, and that I have done
all these things at Thy word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know
that Thou art the Lord God, and that Thou hast turned their heart back again.”
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