Ephesians 5:1-2
February 15, 2024
SAINT JULIANA OF NICOMEDIA – 16th FEBRUARY
February 16, 2024
THE 15th OF FEBRUARY
HAVING FAITH THAT GOD ALWAYS KEEPS HIS WORD
Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.” Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’” Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. – 1 Kings 18:41-45a
Elijah knew that once God told him to go to Ahab, the rain was not far away, and the drought was about to be over, but there was still a long way to go. By faith he had told the king that there was the sound of rain, and then “he bowed down on the ground,” before the Lord (and most likely praying, even if the verse is not clearly saying it) and he sent his servant seven times to look towards the sea, from where they usually saw the first signs of rain. We can see that the miracle did not take place instantly, and a firm faith was needed until the servant said that he saw the hand sized cloud.
When we know what the Lord has promised us, and we also have the Bible verses that support what we have heard from the Lord, we can stand against any doubt and strengthen our faith in that we will truly receive according to the promise. The general promises in the Bible are true for all of us, and we know that they are God’s will for us. Therefore, if there are two or three verses that are in context referring to what we ask from the Lord, we may apply the verse from 1 John 5:14, which says: “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
The prophet Elijah was firmly convinced that he could rely on the Word of God and continued to prophesy the following events. It was enough to hear that there was a small cloud above the sea, that Elijah urged Ahab to leave before the rain came. They did not have covered chariots or paved roads to prevent getting bogged down in the mud when it rained. Elijah knew it was going to rain heavy and so it did! The faith of the prophet allowed his miracle to came to pass! This rain ended the three and a half years of drought.
SUGGESTED PRAYER
How wonderful are the promises from Your Word, dear God! How comforting is the thought that we may know Your will in all the areas of life, if we study our Bibles. And when You speak to us, we can know that what we hear is coming from You, once it is verified by two or three sections of Scriptures. How wonderful are Your ways and how close is Your presence. Please help me to grow in faith in You and Your promises. Please give me the strength to not give up in believing for what I am praying for, when it seems that I am failing, but on the contrary, help me to keep believing until I receive Your answer. Thank You for the example of Elijah and all the other people of faith that we find in the Bible. Glory and honor to You Father God. Amen.
Source: thetruthstandsforever
