42 So Ahab went off to eat and drink… 1 Kings 18: 40b – 42a 40 …Elijah had [the prophets of Baal] brought down to the Kishon Valley  and slaughtered there. 41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” 42 So Ahab went off to eat and drink…

16 “…The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5: 16b - 18 16  “…The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being, just like we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.”

is it to see Elijah portrayed as a normal person like us? How encouraging is it to see Elijah portrayed as a normal person like us? ----------------------------- Within Elijah’s story, we can find at least 4 Qualities that lead to Effective Prayer that we should follow.

1.) Effective Prayers are Humble Prayers 1 Kings 18:42 “So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.”

express reverence to God. “It struck me recently how much worship found in Scripture is ‘Facedown’ and this is the ultimate physical posture to express reverence to God. The point being that when we really face up to the glory of God, we find ourselves facedown in worship and submission.” - Matt Redman

2.) Effective Prayers are Specific Prayers 1 Kings 18:43a “Go and look toward the sea,” Elijah told his servant. And he went up and looked. “There is nothing there,” he said.

Sometimes, in our desire to sound holy or like we have it together…we can give wishy-washy, wimpy, and vague prayers. Name your need. Call it out to God. He is mighty to act. Hebrews 4:16

3.) Effective Prayers are Persistent Prayers 1 Kings 18: 43b – 44a 43 “There is nothing there,” [the servant] said. Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” 44 The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”

Cookies…Math Tests… and Persistent Prayer

Jesus spoke often about the importance of the persisting in all parts of our faith, including our prayers. There are some prayer requests that we make that will only be granted if they are prayed for persistently.

4.) Effective Prayers are Expectant Prayers 1 Kings 18: 44b – 45 44…So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’” 45 Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel.

Umbrellas… Fog… and Expectant Prayer

Linked closely with Jesus’ call to persist in prayer is His command to pray in faith… believing in the loving, all-sufficient power of our Heavenly Father.

4 Qualities of Effective Prayer 1.) Effective Prayers are Humble Prayers 2.) Effective Prayers are Specific Prayers 3.) Effective Prayers are Persistent Prayers 4.) Effective Prayers are Expectant Prayers

Questions to Ponder: Do you currently have a faith-filled, consistent prayer life? What specific prayer do you need to bring before God with persistent faith? What is one prayer that you have consistently prayed? If there is not one, who or what should you commit to praying for?