The Cure for Doubt
Today’s Verse:
And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth. ~1 Kings 17:24
Do you know anyone who is a skeptic? Are you someone who is a skeptic? In other words, you have doubts or suspicions about someone or something until they have been proven. The Jews tended to be skeptical people. Jesus said about them, “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” After crossing the Red Sea, the Hebrews saw, and then believed. However, faith is when we believe first, then see. Faith is believing the incredible, seeing the impossible, and doing the incredible. In our devotion this morning, let us see how fervent prayer is God’s cure for doubt.
We see the ministry of prayer.
Prayer is simply asking. Prayer is begging God to do what we cannot do. Prayer is when we beseech God to unlock the resources of Heaven, open His hand, and do great and mighty things that we know not of. Prayer is the exercise of faith. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). Prayer is the first thing that we must do. Praying is to be done without ceasing. Praying is Jabez asking God, “Bless me and enlarge my coast.” Praying is Epaphras laboring fervently in his prayers for the members of his church. Praying is how we get God’s power. Praying helps us to walk in holiness before God. Praying is the precursor to souls being saved and revival in a church. The most important ministry we can have is to pray.
We see the method in prayer.
“And he cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again.” Elijah’s prayer for the widow’s son teaches us God’s methods for effective praying. First, we see his isolation. He took the boy’s body up to his loft where he abode. That loft was the place where Elijah spent many hours alone with God. There must be a secret place for prayer. Second, we see his intensity in praying. “He cried unto the Lord.” James speaks of Elijah being effectual and fervent in his praying. Third, we see the importunity in his praying. He stretched himself three times on the child, and asked God each time to give the child back his life. Importunity is being persistent, and not giving up.
We see the medicine in prayer.
God answered his prayer! The soul of the child came to him again, and he revived! Elijah brought the child down from the loft, and presented him back to his mother. He said, “See, thy son liveth.” She exclaimed, “Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth.” The answer to Elijah’s prayer cured her doubt! First, her doubt about the Living God in the midst of a famine was cured. God made sure that the widow had enough food during the entire time of the famine. Second, her doubt about the authenticity of Elijah was cured. She knew that a true man of God sees answers to prayer. Third, her doubt about God’s Word and message was cured. She would never again doubt God’s message. It took an extreme situation to make this woman experience first-hand that, without faith, it is impossible to please God.
Let’s increase our time in prayer and add some bold and impossible requests to our prayer list. Let God cure your doubts through answered prayer!
Have a prayer-filled God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Judges 8-9