James 5:17-18 upholds Elijah “a man with a nature like ours” whose prayers unleashed drought and rainfall over Israel. James spotlights him to dispel our doubts in prayer’s potency. We sometimes excuse powerless prayers based on perceived personal inadequacy or disbelief in God’s power. Yet the Bible shows ordinary people pleading bold prayers throughout history to which God responded mightily despite their flaws. The same Holy Spirit indwelling us empowered saints of old (Romans 8:11). May Elijah’s prototype stir us to pray courageous prayers until strongholds of unbelief and evil topple. As Image-bearers of a prayer-hearing God facing a suffering world, we have no excuse to offer listless, self-absorbed intercession that fails to grasp hold of God’s promises to heal, provide, and deliver. Let our petitions consistently fuel Kingdom movements and testify that God stands ready to rend the heavens and come down.
Questions: Are my prayers bold and Kingdom-focused or listless and self-absorbed? What current events or personal needs should I plead for God to address with Elijah-level, world-changing prayer?
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