1 KINGS 18:33-35: And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and
said, “Fill four waterpots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood.” Then he said,
“Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time; and he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a
third time. So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.
In the early days of our country, a traveler came to the banks of the Mississippi River. There was no
bridge but it was early winter, and the surface of the river was covered with ice. He had no way of
knowing, however, if the ice could bear his weight. Finally, after much hesitation and with many fears,
he began to creep cautiously across the ice on his hands and knees.
As he was about halfway across the river, he heard the sound of singing behind him. Looking back,
he saw a man driving a horse-drawn load of coal across the ice. Here the traveler was — trembling,
afraid the ice was not strong enough to bear him — and there came this man, his horses, his sleigh
and his load of coal, confidently upheld by the same ice!
When it came time for God to respond to Elijah’s prayer, Elijah demonstrated his confidence in God.
He didn’t simply build an altar and call down fire. Instead, three times he drenched the altar and the
sacrifice with water until everything was saturated.
Then he filled the trench around the altar with water as well. He was sure that God would not only
answer, but answer in a powerful way.
Christians can have this same confidence. If we pray according to God’s will, we have the assurance
that God will answer, no matter how difficult our circumstances (John 14:14).
Is there something in your life that you’ve not prayed about because you fear it is impossible? Come
to God with confidence. Remember, with God all things are possible — so pray accordingly.
BE CONFIDENT; GOD IS ABLE.