…the LORD answering prayers.

One day Elisha went to the town of Shunem. A wealthy woman lived there, and she urged him to come to her home for a meal. After that, whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for something to eat. She said to her husband, "I am sure this man who stops in from time to time is a holy man of God. (2 Kings 4:8-9 NLT)

This woman and her husband set up a room for Elisha, so he could use their place as a “home base” for his prophetic work in the area.  The couple could not bear children, so Elisha inquired from the LORD and God granted the couple a child.

One day when her child was older, he went out to help his father, who was working with the harvesters. Suddenly he cried out, "My head hurts! My head hurts!" His father said to one of the servants, "Carry him home to his mother." So the servant took him home, and his mother held him on her lap. But around noontime he died. (2 Kings 4:18-20 NLT)

The mom, as you would expect, was distraught.  She went out of town and found the prophet Elisha to ask him to call upon the LORD.  Elisha returned with her to see the boy.

When Elisha arrived, the child was indeed dead, lying there on the prophet's bed. He went in alone and shut the door behind him and prayed to the LORD. (2 Kings 4:32-33 NLT)

The LORD answered Elisha’s prayer for the boy to be born in the first place.  Now Elisha was asking God to give him life again.

Elisha got up, walked back and forth across the room once, and then stretched himself out again on the child. This time the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes! (2 Kings 4:35 NLT)

The LORD answers prayers.  Elisha was a righteous man whose prayers had a great impact (James 5:16).  Sometimes, when we are walking together with God, we see a great impact from our prayers because God says “yes” to us, too.  Sometimes, though, we don’t see the answer we want because the LORD is saying, “No.”  Other times, we don’t see the answer because God says, “Slow down.  Not yet.”  Since it’s difficult to discern the difference between the last two answers, it’s always good to keep on praying.  Who knows? The LORD may say “yes” to your prayer this time.

How about you?  Do you pray?  Have you seen the LORD’s answer to your prayers before?  Are you still waiting for God’s answer to other prayers?  Do you continue in prayer?