Finally the seventh time, his servant told him,

“I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s

hand rising from the sea.”

1 Kings 18:44 NLT

“I know you’ve already looked six times, but please, go look again. I know God is going to send the rain. He promised.” This is what I imagine Elijah may have told his servant after he had gone six times to look out over the sea for any sign of rain.

Three years earlier, Elijah had told King Ahab that God was withholding the rain until he gave the word, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel lives,--the God I serve—there will be no dew of rain during the next few years until I give the word” (1 Kings 17:1 NLT). When Ahab became king, he began to worship Baal, the Caananite fertility god of storm and rain. So God brought a drought on the land. Elijah then went into hiding.

Sometime is the third year of the drought, the Lord told Elijah to go and present himself to King Ahab and tell him that the rain was coming soon, “Go and present yourself to King Ahab. Tell him that I will soon send the rain!” (1 Kings 18:1 NLT). This led to the showdown at Mount Carmel. Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest in order to show them who was the One True God. They each prepared a sacrifice and Elijah told the prophets of Baal to call on their god and he would call on the name of the Lord. The god who answered by setting fire to the wood was the One True God. All the people agreed to this. Of course, we know what happened. Baal wasn’t real so nothing happened. Elijah, on the other hand, had lots of water poured on his sacrifice, and the Lord answered with fire, “Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust” (I Kings 18:38 NLT). The people fell face down and worshiped the Lord, “The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is God! (I Kings 18:39 NLT).

The Lord was already going to send the rain. Remember, He had sent Elijah to tell King Ahab that the rain was coming. Now the people had acknowledged that the Lord was the true God. So, Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel to pray, “Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees” (1 Kings 18:42 NLT). He did the only thing he knew to do. The time between the promise and the fulfillment is a time for prayer.

Elijah teaches us several things about praying while we wait. We don’t know what he prayed, but we know he bent over and put his face between his knees. We know he wasn’t alone and he sent his servant to look out toward the sea. We know he was looking for results. We know he didn’t give up. He prayed and looked until the answer came.

That’s what we are doing. We are praying for as long as it takes. We have this group and we pray for each other and for all the prodigals. I believe God wants to give you a specific promise for your prodigal(s). If He already has, then keep praying and believing and looking for the little cloud. If He hasn’t, then ask Him to lead you to a verse that you can claim. God is always speaking!

Here are a few promises given to people or nations in the Bible:

Jeremiah: I knew you before I formed you in your mothers womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.(Jeremiah 1:5)

God, you knew ________ before you formed him/her in my womb (or name the person who’s womb they were formed in). Before ________ was born You set him/her apart for Your purposes.

Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have summoned you by name. You are mine. (Isaiah 43:1)

I have called you. I have chosen you and not rejected you. I will strengthen you and help you.(Isaiah 41:10)

I will guide you and satisfy your needs. You will be called repairer of broken walls and restorer of streets with dwellings.(Isaiah 58:11-12)

Israel in exile: And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. (Ezekiel 36:26)

Father, I will not be afraid for you have redeemed _________. You have summoned him/her by name. He/She is Yours. You have called him/her. You have chosen him/her and not rejected him/her. You will strengthen _________ and help him/her. You will guide him/her and satisfy his/her needs. _________ will be a repairer of broken walls and restorer of homes. Just as You promised to give Israel a new heart in place of their stubborn heart, I ask you to do the same for _________.

Hear the Word, roaring as thunder With a new, future to tell For the dry season is over There is a cloud, beginning to swell To the skies, heavy with blessing Lift your eyes, offer your heart Jesus Christ, opened the heavens Now we receive, the Spirit of God We receive Your rain We receive Your rain Every seed, buried in sorrow You will call, forth in its time You are Lord, Lord of the harvest Calling our hope, now to arise We receive Your rain We receive Your rain We receive Your rain We receive Your rain Like a flood, like a flood We receive Your love

When You come Like a flood, like a flood We receive Your love

When You come Like a flood, like a flood We receive Your love

When You come Like a flood, like a flood We receive Your love! And with great, anticipation We await, the Promise to come Everything, that You have spoken Will come to pass, let it be done! We receive Your rain We receive Your rain We receive Your rain We receive Your rain