21 Days of Fasting and Prayer - Heaven Come DownSample

Have you ever felt like your prayers were bouncing off the ceiling? Like your words were falling flat and nothing was changing? You’re not alone. Every believer—no matter how seasoned—experiences moments when prayer feels more like a duty than a dynamic connection. But Scripture reminds us that there is a kind of prayer that gets heaven’s attention: fervent, faith-filled prayer rooted in righteousness.

James 5:16–18 (ESV) says:

“The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.”

Let’s break that down:

• Righteous person – Someone whose heart is aligned with God’s
• Fervent prayer – Not casual or routine but focused, persistent, and passionate
• Great power – This isn’t hype, there’s real effectiveness when we pray

James is helping us understand a significant reality of our prayers. He understands the proclivity of most Christians to believe they can’t pray powerfully like the person they see as “more spiritual” than them. Whether that’s a friend, a pastor or teacher, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking God doesn’t answer prayer for me like he does for those individuals.

Which is exactly why James then brings Elijah as an example for us to learn from.

Yes, Elijah was a prophet, but James reminds us he was a man "with a nature like ours." That line is so important. Elijah wasn’t superhuman. He battled fear, discouragement, and doubt. Yet, when he prayed, rain stopped. When he prayed again, rain returned. His prayers affected the natural world. That’s how powerful Spirit-led, faith-filled prayer can be!

When you fast, you’re removing distractions and sharpening your spiritual senses. You’re choosing to deny the flesh so that your spirit can become even more sensitized to God’s Spirit. Fasting aligns your heart with the will of God, and when your heart is aligned, your prayers become effective.

Like Elijah, you may feel unqualified at times to pray powerfully. You may even feel spiritually dry. But remember: Elijah was just like us. And if God moved through his prayers, He can and will move through yours too!

This is your encouragement today:
Don’t just pray. Pray fervently.
Don’t just fast. Fast with purpose.
And don’t let doubt tell you that your prayers don’t matter.
They do. They work. And they can move mountains.