I have long believed that prayer was never meant to be a passive or secondary part of the Christian life. Scripture presents prayer as a living partnership between God and His people—faith-filled, intentional, and anchored in His Word. When prayer aligns with God’s will and flows from trust in what He has said, it truly does avail much.
Prayer is not background noise. It is meant to be active and engaged—an expression of faith that expects God to move, even when the timing or outcome is not immediately clear.
Over the years, I’ve learned that a weak prayer life is rarely about loving God less. More often, it reflects uncertainty—uncertainty about what God has promised, how faith works, or whether prayer truly matters. And that uncertainty usually traces back to a limited understanding of God’s Word. Scripture is where prayer finds its confidence and direction. When we don’t know what God has said about faith, authority, perseverance, and trust, prayer can feel hesitant or ineffective. But when faith grows through the Word, prayer grows stronger with it.
Jesus once asked a sobering question: “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8, NKJV) That question reminds us that prayer is not merely about asking—it is about believing.
From early in my Christian walk, I learned enough about prayer to trust that when I prayed, God would move—even if the answer didn’t come immediately. And as I’ve continued to grow in His Word, that confidence has only deepened. At the same time, I’ve learned something equally important: I do not always know how God is working things out. I can only pray from what I see. God always works from what He sees.
There have been moments when circumstances unfolded differently than I prayed for, and that never shook my faith. Jesus settled that tension once and for all when He prayed, “Nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42, NKJV) Faith does not demand control over outcomes; it rests in the goodness and wisdom of God.
Scripture makes clear that God is always at work beyond what we can see.
“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3–4, NKJV)
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority…” (1 Timothy 2:1–2, NKJV)
That brings us to Elijah.
“Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly…” (James 5:17, NKJV)
Elijah’s life reminds us that powerful prayer was never reserved for a select few. He was a man like us—subject to fear, pressure, and human limitation—yet aligned with God’s will. When he prayed earnestly, God moved in the earth. That was not an exception. That was God’s design.
Elijah prayed, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.” (1 Kings 18:36–37, NKJV)
That is still the kind of prayer God honors—earnest, faith-filled, and aligned with His will. Prayer that seeks His glory. Prayer that trusts His wisdom. Prayer that believes God is always working, even when we cannot yet see how.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for inviting us to partner with You through prayer. Teach us to pray earnestly, in faith, and in alignment with Your Word and Your will. Strengthen our hearts to trust You even when answers are delayed or look different from what we expect. Use our prayers to turn hearts back to You, and let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
