Bring the Umbrella

"And Elijah said to Ahab, 'Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.' So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees."
1 Kings 18:41-42 (NIV)

Would you carry an umbrella during a drought?

After 26,280 hours and 1,095 days without a single drop of rain, Elijah stood on Mount Carmel and told King Ahab, "I hear the sound of a heavy rain." There wasn’t a cloud in the sky or a hint of moisture anywhere. The king probably thought Elijah had lost his mind.

But Elijah understood there was sound before there was sight. He heard something from God before He saw it.

Most of us would wait to say anything until we saw the cloud or felt the first drop of rain. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel, got alone with God, bent down with his face between his knees, and prayed. When you hear God's Word, you do what you know God wants you to do before you see God act.

How do you hear God’s Word? You get alone with God. You are what you really are when you're alone with God. When you pray privately, you're not trying to impress anybody else. You're letting God know that you believe He answers prayer and that you mean business.

That’s the secret to a powerful life. It’s a prayerful life.

When God prompts you to make that call you've been avoiding, don't wait until you feel ready or think things will go smoothly. Get alone with Him right now. Pray, "God, I'm acting on Your Word before I see the results." Then pick up the phone.

Faith grabs the umbrella before the first cloud appears.

Prayer: Father, thank You for speaking to me. Help me act on Your Word before I see the results. Teach me the power of praying privately and give me the grace to obey immediately. Lord, I trust You'll send the rain I need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.