February 16 Daily Devotional

Monthly Theme:

Elijah's name is his mission: "My God is the LORD." Elijah teaches us the meaning of repentance by the removal of idolatry. Unless we obey the Word, God's blessings don't descend. Instead, the land will experience a terrible drought.

Bible Reading:

1 Kings 18:41–45

Bible Text:

The seventh time the servant reported, "A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea" (1 Kings 18:44).

Devotional:

Fire fell from heaven. The people confessed the LORD and they killed the prophets of Baal. But the country did not yet enjoy God's grace. Before rain could fall as a sign of God's returned favor, someone had to pray.

Nothing in our relationship with God is ever automatic or mechanical. The relationship is covenantal, which means it depends on interaction between two parties—God and people.

God has promised us numerous blessings, but we cannot receive God's gifts unless we ask for them in faith. Asking is essential.

When God sent Elijah back to Israel, he said, "Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land" (1 Kings 18:1). But at the end of this tremendous story, after the great victory on Mount Carmel, Elijah still has to wrestle with God in prayer for the rain the LORD had promised.

In fact, Elijah prays seven times—and his servant searches the horizon again and again—before a rain cloud appears. Elijah's seven prayers demonstrate the labor of intercession that is required before the people can live again in God's covenant love.

Prayer is the avenue through which we go to receive what God has promised. All of us must walk that avenue daily. The LORD has the power to do anything. But his works require the prayers of his people.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published in 1994. This edition is copyright by Faith Alive Christian Resources, from whom may be ordered Daylight, the predecessor of Twilight.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this edition of Twilight are from the New International Version

Be sure to read the "Preface" and the "Acknowledgments" by the author.