When God Answers By Fire

“At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: 'Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.’” 
 1 Kings 18:36-37 (NIV) 

My six-year-old nephew once confidently told me, "Uncle James, I prayed really hard, but God didn't hear me." I asked him how he knew that. He replied, "Because nothing happened!" 

How often do you measure God's attentiveness by whether you see immediate results? In 1 Kings 18, Elijah's prayer stands in stark contrast to the frantic, hours-long petitions of Baal's prophets. While they shouted, danced, and even cut themselves to get their god's attention, Elijah simply offered a 10-second prayer focused entirely on God's glory. 

"Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again" (1 Kings 18:37). 

Notice what's missing from Elijah's prayer: no demand for personal vindication, no request for punishment of his enemies, no plea for his own safety. His only concern was that God would reveal Himself so clearly that the people's hearts would turn back to Him. 

When your prayers seem unanswered, consider their focus. Are you praying primarily for your comfort or God's glory? Are you asking God to make your name great or His? Your prayers move heaven when you seek to magnify Him. 

And remember this: sometimes God answers with fire–dramatic, immediate responses that leave no doubt. But often, He answers with the still, small voice that Elijah would hear later.  

 The power of prayer isn't measured by God's method or timing of response, but by your faithful persistence—a persistence the Holy Spirit fans into flame within you. 

What if today you shifted your prayers from "Lord, meet my needs" to "Lord, show Your glory"? When you surrender your demands and seek His kingdom first, God often answers by sending the fire of His presence, flooding your heart with His peace, and moving with unstoppable power on your behalf.  

The God who answered Elijah's prayer is still in the business of answering yours. 

Prayer: Father, Thank You for Your presence of Your Holy Spirit–always with me and responding when I call! Teach me to orient my heart, my life and my prayers around Your kingdom, Lord. More than seeing my needs met, may the greatest desire of my heart be to see Your goodness spread through the earth and people’s hearts turned back to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.