“36 And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.”
- I Kings 18:36-39
What do your prayers sound like?
Are they filled with praise and thanks for who God is and all He has done? Are they flooded with confession and agreement with God about your sin so He can restore fellowship? Is there time for listening quietly for the Holy Spirit to speak to you? Are your prayers a laundry list of requests for God to accomplish? Are there moments when all you can do is groan, completely unsure of how to pray?
Elijah was one of the only prophets of God left on the planet. As he came to a dynamic showdown with the 450 prophets of the false god, Baal, he threw down the gauntlet for a final test to show who the true God was. The prophets of Baal called out for hours to send fire upon their sacrifice, going to great lengths to inspire him to move.
As evening fell, Elijah prayed a simple but powerful prayer. “Lord, move so they know You are the only God. As Your servant, I am asking You to turn their hearts back to You.” Fire fell from heaven and consumed not only the sacrifice, but the wood and even the water in the trough surrounding it.
There was no doubt in everyone’s mind that day who the real Lord was. This Christmas, you will see extended family and friends who are blindly worshiping any and everything except the one, true God. As you hang your ornament, pray for each family member or friend who doesn’t know Jesus. Pray they would see God so clearly move in their lives there would be no denying He is the only God worthy of worship!
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