Two-Minute Manna

According to James 5:17, Elijah’s secret was prayer. In public, his prayer was short. But here we see him praying in private, and his prayer takes on an entirely different dimension. He puts his head between his knees and prays. In Middle Eastern cultures, this was the birthing position. Here we see a man of prayer who prayed quickly in public - but in private he prayed with intensity and travail.

Do you know what it means to birth something in prayer? Have you experienced what it means to press in and pray through? Do you pray once or twice or three times and give up if nothing happens? That’s too often my attitude. Not so with Elijah. He prayed until something was birthed. How I love to be around people who love to pray. It’s hard work. Jesus prayed in Gethsemane with such birthing intensity that His face sweat blood. Do we even know what it means to keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking? Elijah prayed and didn’t give up.

Is your marriage a burden tonight? Have you prayed to the place of sweat? Are you experiencing tension over some situation? Have you prayed time and time again? Somehow, dear friend, the Lord teaching us to press in and pray is preparing us for the billions of years that lie beyond. He’s not teasing you or making it hard on you. He’s developing you and strengthening you. The reason the Lord is stretching us in faith and teaching us in prayer and forcing us to mature is because He’s training us for eternity.

Elijah saw a little cloud and said, “Tell Ahab to get moving. A storm’s coming!”

“Wait a minute,” we say. “A little cloud doesn’t mean anything.” Oh, but it does to a man of faith.