DAY 22 POWERFUL PRAYERS “ELIJAH’S PRAYER THAT CLOSED THE HEAVENS FOR 3 ½ YEARS”
1 Kings 17:1, “Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, ‘As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word’.”
We know that God can control the weather. We know that He can stop the rain. But in this example, we see Elijah requesting for God to stop the rain… and God listens! How amazing is this? This request does not build up Elijah’s power but instead gives God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the glory. This act showed the nation who is the one and true God. The Author and Creator of the world. God honored the request of Elijah and did not send rain until he prayed again.
Prayer Focus: You probably do not want to pray that rain “will not come down from heaven.” But there are many things for which you can pray. Know that this same God who heard Elijah’s prayer hears yours. The same God with the same power.
We know that God can control the weather. We know that He can stop the rain. But in this example, we see Elijah requesting for God to stop the rain… and God listens! How amazing is this? This request does not build up Elijah’s power but instead gives God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the glory. This act showed the nation who is the one and true God. The Author and Creator of the world. God honored the request of Elijah and did not send rain until he prayed again.
Prayer Focus: You probably do not want to pray that rain “will not come down from heaven.” But there are many things for which you can pray. Know that this same God who heard Elijah’s prayer hears yours. The same God with the same power.
DAY 23 POWERFUL PRAYERS “ELISHA’S PRAYER TO THE LORD TO RAISE THE DEAD”
2 Kings 4:32-35, “When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. 33 So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the LORD. 34 Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm. 35 Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.”
You may be thinking, “This is an odd way to bring a person back to life.” Odd or not, a miracle happened that day. A child was brought back from the dead. The impossible happened. God raised the dead. If He can raise the dead, He can do anything.
Prayer Focus: In your prayer today thank God for His working in the impossible. What does your prayer need to be today? Whose life would you like to see “risen” or born again? Pray for the salvation of souls today.
You may be thinking, “This is an odd way to bring a person back to life.” Odd or not, a miracle happened that day. A child was brought back from the dead. The impossible happened. God raised the dead. If He can raise the dead, He can do anything.
Prayer Focus: In your prayer today thank God for His working in the impossible. What does your prayer need to be today? Whose life would you like to see “risen” or born again? Pray for the salvation of souls today.
DAY 24 POWERFUL PRAYERS “DANIEL’S PRAYERS THAT ARE ANSWERED BY GOD”
Daniel 10:12, “Then he said to me, "Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.
God hears our prayers! Rejoice in that reminder! God hears the prayers of the humble and does not forget what we have said. Let us not forget our own requests so that we can see God answer.
Prayer Focus: Focus today on God sitting on His throne, listening to your prayer. Praise Him for who He is and know that He can see you, hear you, and help you.
God hears our prayers! Rejoice in that reminder! God hears the prayers of the humble and does not forget what we have said. Let us not forget our own requests so that we can see God answer.
Prayer Focus: Focus today on God sitting on His throne, listening to your prayer. Praise Him for who He is and know that He can see you, hear you, and help you.
DAY 25 POWERFUL PRAYERS “JOB’S CONFESSION AND REPENTANCE”
Job 42:1-6, “Then Job answered the LORD and said: 2 "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 3 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 4 'Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.' 5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; 6 therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes."
“This is one of my personal favorite verses” (Pastor Brent). Throughout the book of Job, we see Job’s request for understanding regarding the events in his life. Prior to this verse we see God’s response. A powerful response from the King of kings. Job then, finally, understands and repents for his lack of understanding. From this prayer, God raised him up above his former prosperity.
Prayer Focus: Sometimes God is waiting for us to, finally, come to him humbled in our understanding. Then He will answer in great and mighty ways. Job is an example of a heart that is genuinely submitting to God’s will. Submit yourself to God today and make your requests known to Him.
“This is one of my personal favorite verses” (Pastor Brent). Throughout the book of Job, we see Job’s request for understanding regarding the events in his life. Prior to this verse we see God’s response. A powerful response from the King of kings. Job then, finally, understands and repents for his lack of understanding. From this prayer, God raised him up above his former prosperity.
Prayer Focus: Sometimes God is waiting for us to, finally, come to him humbled in our understanding. Then He will answer in great and mighty ways. Job is an example of a heart that is genuinely submitting to God’s will. Submit yourself to God today and make your requests known to Him.
DAY 26 POWERFUL PRAYERS “STEPHEN’S PRAYER OF FORGIVENESS”
Acts 7:60, “And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
In case you do not remember the story, Stephen prays this while being stoned to death. As his body is being crushed under rocks from those who do not want him to proclaim the Gospel, he cries out to God to forgive them. Consider that and spend some time reflecting on this. Even as Jesus was dying, He cried out to Father in the same way. Luke 23:34, “And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do’."
Prayer Focus: Who is casting stones at you? Who is in need of salvation? Pray today for the Father in heaven to forgive them as they do not know what they do.
In case you do not remember the story, Stephen prays this while being stoned to death. As his body is being crushed under rocks from those who do not want him to proclaim the Gospel, he cries out to God to forgive them. Consider that and spend some time reflecting on this. Even as Jesus was dying, He cried out to Father in the same way. Luke 23:34, “And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do’."
Prayer Focus: Who is casting stones at you? Who is in need of salvation? Pray today for the Father in heaven to forgive them as they do not know what they do.
DAY 27 POWERFUL PRAYERS “ELIJAH’S PRAYER THAT BROUGHT DOWN FIRE”
1 Kings 18:36-39, “And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, ‘O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back." 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God’.”
If you are like many, you get the chills reading a passage like this. Wouldn’t you love to see these amazing acts? Wouldn’t you love to see God send fire from heaven and show the world His power? God does not need to send down fire every day. But He still shows His power through weakness, through radically changed lives, and through miracles that happen every day.
Prayer Focus: Pray today for belief in your unbelief. Do you honestly believe that God can rain down fire from heaven? Do you believe that God is really near and hears you? Pray for faith in Him through all circumstances and for Him to show His glory through your life.
If you are like many, you get the chills reading a passage like this. Wouldn’t you love to see these amazing acts? Wouldn’t you love to see God send fire from heaven and show the world His power? God does not need to send down fire every day. But He still shows His power through weakness, through radically changed lives, and through miracles that happen every day.
Prayer Focus: Pray today for belief in your unbelief. Do you honestly believe that God can rain down fire from heaven? Do you believe that God is really near and hears you? Pray for faith in Him through all circumstances and for Him to show His glory through your life.
DAY 28 POWERFUL PRAYERS “THE PRAYERS OF CORNELIUS”
Acts 10:1-4, “At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, "Cornelius." 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.”
Would you be described as a person of devotion to God like Cornelius? Would you be labeled as a person who fears God, respects God, and lives for Him more than anything else? Are you a person who is characterized by your giving nature? Not only did others recognize Cornelius for these things, but God also recognized him for these things and blessed him because of it.
Prayer Focus: Today, repent for not putting God as first priority in your life. What changes must you make to develop into a diligent prayer warrior? In what ways can you become a person of generosity? Ask God for help, because without Him our works are worthless.
Would you be described as a person of devotion to God like Cornelius? Would you be labeled as a person who fears God, respects God, and lives for Him more than anything else? Are you a person who is characterized by your giving nature? Not only did others recognize Cornelius for these things, but God also recognized him for these things and blessed him because of it.
Prayer Focus: Today, repent for not putting God as first priority in your life. What changes must you make to develop into a diligent prayer warrior? In what ways can you become a person of generosity? Ask God for help, because without Him our works are worthless.