Today’s Key Scripture (all references NKJV unless otherwise noted:

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all of their troubles.

—Psalm 34:17

One of my favorite stories in the Old Testament takes place on Mt. Carmel as Elijah challenges the 450 idol-worshiping prophets of Baal to a spiritual showdown.

The people wanted to know the answer to this question: Who is serving the true God?

Each side agreed to make an altar of wood and stones with the meat of a bullock placed upon it.  The worshipers of Baal went first, calling on their god. They even cut themselves with knives and cried aloud to the heavens, but there was no response.

When the time came for Elijah’s test, he had four barrels of water to be poured over the sacrifice three times. There was so much water that it “ran all around the altar” and filled the trench that encircled it (verse 35).

Elijah then looked up to heaven and prayed one of the most effective prayers ever recorded. God’s servant had a specific request and God gave a specific answer. The fire fell and consumed the sacrifice, the wood and the stones, the dust, and even the water that was in the trench!

Are you ready to move into that dimension of effective prayer and communion?

A Prayer for Today:

Heavenly Father, I seek Your presence today. Jesus, You are my perfect example of how I should live my life in communion. Allow me the strength and wisdom to follow in Your footsteps. I desire intimacy with You. I boldly choose to live in You and for You and You alone. Permeate my spirit, soul, and body to the point that I can continue to be transformed into Your image. Grant me the power and understanding to be pure, peaceful, caring, thoughtful, obedient, compassionate, and genuine like You, so that when I fast trials and tests, You will always direct my words and deeds. Lord. I pray this in the Name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, Amen!