1 Kings Part 3: How To Pray For A Miracle | Pastor David Hermes

This week we’re diving into 1 Kings 18, and it really gets at a simple but important question: where are we putting our energy when it comes to worship and life?

On Mount Carmel, you’ve got this wild scene – Elijah going up against the prophets of Baal – and what you see is that not all effort is the same. The prophets of Baal are going all out trying to get a response from a god who never answers. It’s exhausting, and honestly, kind of heartbreaking.

And if we’re real, we can do the same thing. Maybe not with Baal, but with comfort, success, relationships, or just wanting people to like us. We pour ourselves out, thinking if we just try harder or do more, something will finally come through for us.

Then there’s Elijah. He steps up and prays a simple, honest prayer to the God who actually has power, and God shows up.

It’s a pretty clear contrast. How often do we live like it’s all on us? Like we have to perform, strive, and push harder to get God to move?

This passage invites us to something different. It’s about being honest with God about what’s really going on in our hearts, letting go of the pressure to prove anything, and trusting Him to do what only He can do.

Because here’s the good news: we’re not people who have to bleed for our god. We follow a God whose Son bled for us so we can actually live in freedom and fullness of life.