Biblical Teaching on Prayer

James 5:17-18

Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

Pondering Point

In tomorrow’s devotion you will find a tired, dejected and disheartened Elijah, but today we read of a confident, awe-inspiring Elijah. Having been hidden by God for three and a half years, Elijah re-emerges at the Lord’s request and flashes unmatched power and authority in God’s name. Among people of his day blatantly disregarding God, Elijah stands out by speaking for God, commanding even rain to fall for His glory.

What does James say about this Elijah: He is just like us! We too can be used by God to bring Him glory, even among people of our day who disregard God. Elijah operated under God’s authority. But he wasn’t unique in this manner. It comes with God’s calling. Just like Jesus’ first disciples, we have been called to make disciples and can do so operating under Jesus’ authority over heaven and earth.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, all authority has been given to You. I believe this and know that You sit at the right hand of God even as I pray. I also believe that I am subject to that authority and that I am empowered by that authority to bless those around me with peace, with the Gospel of forgiveness and grace, and with Your Holy Spirit. You are the Way. Lead the way. Amen.

Prayer Thoughts
Chapter 48
Caring

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

While I was chaplain at Seoul Foreign School (SFS) in Korea, I was given the privilege to teach a course called: “Peer Counseling.” This instruction was to provide beginning counseling skills that would enable students to be the initial caregivers to classmates who had a variety of problems. We studied listening, caring and confrontation skills, and a body of knowledge designed to inform us about some of the key issues commonly faced by students. In particular, I was committed to providing a caring Christian environment consistent with the highest Christian values of compassion, tolerance, forgiveness, and reconciliation at SFS

We tried to identify the causes, effects, the Biblical perspective, and responses to many issues such as suicide, self-esteem, stress, depression, rape, drugs, alcohol, racism, abuse and others.

Each class member was asked to do a research paper on one of the topics and present it to class. The abortion topic seemed to make a lasting impression on me… I don’t know of anything else that can bring relief and freedom to a woman who is torn and burdened, heavy laden with the reality, and guilt of what she has done in having had an abortion. Nothing can solve that problem except what Jesus offers.

Got his book? Read pages 215-218 in Keep Me and Keep All, Smith.