Bible Studies for Life: August 8

Serve through Prayer • 1 Kings 17:17-24

By Clay Anthony

How long can you go without looking at your smart phone? That’s a question that a few years ago would have made little sense. That little device that is ever-present in your hand is a wonder of communication.

I can speak to my wife and my two sons while all three are in different states. I can even see their faces via video. What we saw happening on the science fiction television show Star Trek decades ago is now everyday living for us. In the day of Zoom and social media, there is no excuse for not being in touch with those we love.

Apply that thought to prayer. Communicating with God has been around longer than electronics. Speaking with God was the first order of business that occurred in Eden. Today, communicating with people is easier than ever.

We have iPods, iPads, and iPhones, but when it comes to speaking with God, why is it that we seem so isolated? Praying is simple yet, if are honest, often regulated to the back burners of our lives. Does our text reveal any secrets to making prayer a more consistent part of our routines? Yes, in three ways:

Hardships (17-18). Do you find it odd that few people ever pray at the beach — but often do in the ICU waiting room? We find it easy to pray when something has driven us to the throne for mercy, but when we drive ourselves to grace we become forgetful of the need to pray.

This widow had just witnessed a great miracle by being saved from starvation. Now she has lost her child. Why would this happen? She asked this of Elijah who in turned asked the same of God. Hardships force our hearts to pray.

I have often said that being a product of a Christian home with three degrees from Baptist schools did nothing to teach me how to pray. I learned how to pray while following an ambulance that was carrying my son. We can rest assured that this calamity did not befall this widow because of her sins (v. 18).

God always has a way of getting His children’s attention. Hardships are indeed due to sin, but that is the overarching theme of the curse. If you live long enough, you will find yourself facing moments that will drive you to pray.

Service (vv. 19-21). Elijah could have easily looked the other way. He could have given the widow a diatribe on how sin has wrecked the world and that all people suffer. Yet that is not what we are told to do. James 5:16-17 even mentions Elijah by name for his ability to pray.

We are to pray for those around us who are facing hardships. There is no greater service we can render another human than to mention their name to God in prayer. There is a great omission in our prayer services when we fail to intercede on behalf of the hurting and their specific need.

Again, in humble honesty, during our prayer services for the hurting and lost around us, how much actual time is spent in prayer verses discussion or announcements?

Witness (vv. 22-24). This widow received more than just her son revived to life. She received full knowledge that God was real. She believed not because she was convinced that God took something away from her, but because she experienced God replacing death with life. There is power in seeing a dead person come back to life.

She was quick to give full credit to God for what only He could do. This is a great witness for us as well. When we pray and see that prayer come to fruition, can there be a better word of testimony to a doubting world?

While waiting for his wife to succumb to cancer, British Christian author C.S. Lewis was told by a friend that he had prayed for her recovery. Lewis shockingly replied, “Please do not pray that. She might die and then I would be mad at God and I do not want to be mad at God.”

Of course, we are to pray for healing. The point is no matter the outcome of my prayers, I want to reflect someone who trusts God is all things and gives witness to His goodness even during heartache.

God does not just know better. God knows best. Our prayer life is a witness to the lost in how we react to the answers to our prayers. Now put your phone down and pray for me.

Anthony is Associational Missions Director for the Collaborative Missionary Network. He may be contacted at claynell@aol.com.