How is your prayer life? Do you want to have your prayers answered? Let’s look at the prayer of Elijah to see one that was answered, and see why it was!

If you haven’t read the entire story of Elijah, you should take a few minutes sometime and read it. It’s a great example of how God will provide for you in any and every circumstance. But in case you haven’t read it, here’s a little background.

Israel was ruled by Ahab. Ahab was ruled by his wife, Jezebel. She had promoted Baal worship, and it had taken over the nation. Elijah comes in to see Ahab and Jezebel, and promises that it would not rain until he says so. Of course, they thought he was crazy, but three dry years later they were searching for him.

Elijah shows back up, and challenges the prophets of Baal to a contest on top of Mount Carmel. Here is what Elijah said when the day started.

1 Kings 18:21-24

21 Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people did not answer him a word.

22 Then Elijah said to the people, "I alone am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal's prophets are 450 men.

23 "Now let them give us two oxen; and let them choose one ox for themselves and cut it up, and place it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other ox and lay it on the wood, and I will not put a fire under it.

24 "Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, He is God." And all the people said, "That is a good idea."

As you can imagine, the altar the priest of Baal built never did catch on fire, even though the 450 prophets danced and called all day long, even cutting themselves with swords.

When Elijah finally gets his turn, he shows off a little bit by pouring 12 pitchers of water on top of his altar, and filling up a trench around it with water. Then he makes this prayer.

1 Kings 18:36-37

36 At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, "O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and 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 heart back again."

Think about exactly what Elijah was praying for. He wanted fire to come down out of heaven and consume the altar. GOD DID NOT TELL ELIJAH AHEAD OF TIME WHAT TO DO. How could Elijah have that confidence?!

Elijah knew that he was praying for something that God wanted to happen. The reason Elijah wanted the altar to be consumed was so that God could be glorified. He wasn’t praying so that he could get the credit, or to get himself out of a jam. (Imagine what would have happened to Elijah if God had NOT consumed the altar!)

We so often pray for things related to what WE want, not what God wants. But when we pray for God’s will to be accomplished, we cannot be disappointed!

1 John 5:14-15

14 This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

As you continue to grow spiritually, you will see more and more of how God is working in your life, and you will realize that His will is exactly what is best for you. Then your prayers will line up with the will of God, and you will have a spectacular prayer life.