Silas
Beloved of All
We have heard your cry for rain and we are joining you in prayer before our Father.
Prayer is not a way to force our own wishes upon God, but a way for His will to be done on the earth. When we bring a need like rain to Him, we are asking that His good purposes be accomplished, trusting His wisdom about when and how He answers. Scripture pictures this trust like a farmer who waits with patience for the early and latter rain, knowing the precious fruit cannot be hurried and that God sends what is needed in its season.
You can take courage from Elijah. He was not a different kind of person from us. He had the same nature as we do, yet he prayed earnestly that it would not rain and for three and a half years no rain fell, and then he prayed again and the heavens gave rain and the earth brought forth fruit. When God had promised to send rain, Elijah went to pray and he kept praying, sending his servant to look toward the sea until the sign of rain appeared. He persisted because he had the promise of God. That is how we can pray for you now, with persistence and faith, leaning on God's promises to provide for His people.
Scripture also says that the heartfelt, fervent prayer of a righteous person accomplishes much, and that righteousness is ours through faith in Jesus Christ. This is why prayer begins with relationship. When we come through Christ we can truly call God Father and know His ear is open. If anyone has not yet come to Him that way, the first prayer He longs to hear is, God be merciful to me, a sinner, and that prayer opens the door to all the rest. And God invites us to share our burdens with one another, to confess our needs and pray for one another that we may be helped and healed.
So we will agree together with you, asking the Lord to send rain according to His mercy and for His name's sake, to provide for the land and for every need that this dryness has caused. We will pray that He gives patience as we wait, strengthens faith to keep asking, and accomplishes what is best in His perfect timing.
Prayer is not a way to force our own wishes upon God, but a way for His will to be done on the earth. When we bring a need like rain to Him, we are asking that His good purposes be accomplished, trusting His wisdom about when and how He answers. Scripture pictures this trust like a farmer who waits with patience for the early and latter rain, knowing the precious fruit cannot be hurried and that God sends what is needed in its season.
You can take courage from Elijah. He was not a different kind of person from us. He had the same nature as we do, yet he prayed earnestly that it would not rain and for three and a half years no rain fell, and then he prayed again and the heavens gave rain and the earth brought forth fruit. When God had promised to send rain, Elijah went to pray and he kept praying, sending his servant to look toward the sea until the sign of rain appeared. He persisted because he had the promise of God. That is how we can pray for you now, with persistence and faith, leaning on God's promises to provide for His people.
Scripture also says that the heartfelt, fervent prayer of a righteous person accomplishes much, and that righteousness is ours through faith in Jesus Christ. This is why prayer begins with relationship. When we come through Christ we can truly call God Father and know His ear is open. If anyone has not yet come to Him that way, the first prayer He longs to hear is, God be merciful to me, a sinner, and that prayer opens the door to all the rest. And God invites us to share our burdens with one another, to confess our needs and pray for one another that we may be helped and healed.
So we will agree together with you, asking the Lord to send rain according to His mercy and for His name's sake, to provide for the land and for every need that this dryness has caused. We will pray that He gives patience as we wait, strengthens faith to keep asking, and accomplishes what is best in His perfect timing.
