The Seventh Look #RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Seventh Look #RTTBROS #Nightlight

"Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly...and he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit." — James 5:17-18

There's something in this passage I've never been able to shake loose from my heart.

James makes the point that Elijah was no superhero. He was a man of "like passions," which means he got tired, got discouraged, got scared, just like you and me. And yet, this ordinary man with an extraordinary God prayed and shut up the heavens for three and a half years.

The part that really grabs me is found in 1 Kings 18, up on Mount Carmel, after the fire had already fallen and the people had cried "The LORD, he is God!" Elijah cast himself down on the earth, put his face between his knees, and prayed for rain. Then he sent his servant to look toward the sea. The servant came back, "There is nothing." Six times, nothing. Not a cloud. Not a wisp.

Here's where it gets personal. Most of us give up somewhere between look one and look six. I'm too soon old and too late smart on this one, because I've walked away from more than a few altars before the seventh look.

But Elijah kept his face in the dirt and kept praying. On the seventh look, the servant saw a cloud the size of a man's hand. That was enough. Before long, "the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain."

Friend, maybe you're on look number four today. The sky still looks empty. The answer hasn't come. The prodigal hasn't come home. The door is still closed.

Don't stop. History is just HIS story, and yours isn't finished being written.

Persistent prayer isn't a lack of faith when the answer is delayed. It IS the faith. Keep your face between your knees. The cloud is coming, and it starts small.

Let's pray: Father, give us the faith of Elijah, not just to ask once, but to keep asking, keep watching, and keep believing even when the sky looks empty. In Jesus' name, Amen.

#Prayer #Faith #Elijah #PersistentPrayer #BibleWisdomDaily #ChristianWisdom #PracticalBiblicalWisdom #RTTBROS #Nightlight

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Show Notes

Episode Title: The Seventh Look, Nightlight with RTTBROS

Episode Description: When Elijah prayed for rain on Mount Carmel, the sky stayed empty six times before the answer came. In this episode, Gene walks through that powerful story and delivers practical biblical wisdom for anyone who is tempted to stop praying before the seventh look. If your prayer feels like it's hitting the ceiling, this word is for you.

Scripture: James 5:17-18; 1 Kings 18:41-45

Transcript: (insert above)

Reflection Questions:

1. Is there a prayer you have stopped sending your "servant to look" on, because the answer seemed too delayed? What would it look like to return to that prayer with renewed persistence?

2. Elijah prayed privately and persistently after a very public victory. How do you maintain passionate prayer when no one is watching and nothing visible is happening?

3. James says Elijah was a man "of like passions." How does knowing that this great man of prayer was ordinary like you change how you approach your own prayer life?

Call to Action: Like, Share, Follow and subscribe, it helps get the word out.

https://linktr.ee/rttbros