...The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. Elijah was a human being with a nature such as we have [with feelings, affections, and a constitution like ours]; and he prayed earnestly for it not to rain, and no rain fell on the earth for three years and six months. [I Kings 17:1.] And [then] he prayed again and the heavens supplied rain and the land produced its crops [as usual]. [I Kings 18:42-45.] (James 5:16-18 AMP)
Our country needs renewing, from the government down to us. We all could use a dose of earnest and heartfelt prayer for each other. Would it really make a difference? God says prayer makes tremendous power available that works dynamically. The power is only in the prayer because we pray to a loving God Who will move and work dynamically on our behalf
Elijah was a man of God that prayed some powerful prayers. Just because he was a man of God doesn't mean he didn't struggle with depression or maybe laziness or maybe trouble trusting God. He was a guy with issues like the rest of us. But he did something way out of the ordinary. He asked God for it to not rain and God answered for three years and six months. Then he prayed again and the heavens poured out water from its overflowing nimbostratus clouds so that the crops would finally grow again.
We come back to the government and us. They, we need prayer, maybe not for years without rain but for something even more important...wisdom, honesty, love for people, and a warm heart towards God. Those qualities take some powerful, earnest prayer from all of us. Earnest means heartfelt and continuous. Continuous because we have to pray until the Lord answers. Sometimes it's a bit longer than we expect. But He loves to hear His children pray and will answer in the way that shows His love the best.
