Effective Praying

We have been looking at the life of Elijah on Sunday mornings at Ridgeview and the principles we can learn from this great man of God. One of those is effective praying. Elijah was effective in praying. How so?

1. His prayers were marked with humility.

(Elijah)...bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. 1 Kings 18:42

2. His prayers were specific.

"Go and look toward the sea," he told his servant. And he went up and looked. "There is nothing there," he said... 1 Kings 18:43

Why did Elijah ask his servant to go toward the sea? He was specifically praying for rain!

3. His prayers were marked with persistence.

"Go and look toward the sea," he told his servant. And he went up and looked. "There is nothing there," he said. Seven times Elijah said, "Go back." 1 Kings 18:43

4. His prayers were marked with expectancy.

The seventh time the servant reported, "A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea," So Elijah said, "Go and tell Ahab, 'Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.'" 1 Kings 18:44

What have you stopped praying about? Start back today with humility, specificity, persistence, and expectancy. God answers prayer!