IN FIRST KINGS 18:41 (NKJV) Elijah said to King Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of the abundance of rain.” The word abundance indicates an overwhelming amount. As we continue reading this story, realize that something significant is about to happen.

1 Kings 18:42–45 (NKJV)

42  So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees,

43 and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.”

44  Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”
45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. . . .

In verse 41, it’s interesting that when Elijah talked to King Ahab, there was no sign of rain. Notice that Elijah didn’t say rain was coming. He said, “There is the sound . . . ,” present tense.

Elijah perceived what God wanted for Israel and began declaring it to be so. Many Christians think doing that is enough. But verse 42 tells us Elijah went to Carmel, bowed down, put his face between his knees, and contended in prayer for what He knew God wanted.

So many times, we want to pray comfortably. Not Elijah. He pressed in. He lifted his voice to Heaven and called on God until it started to rain.

We often give up easily in prayer. We don’t yield to the Spirit and go far enough. If we want what God has for us, we must contend for it. People often say, “Well, I prayed, and I’m believing God.” That’s good, but sometimes it’s not enough.