Fifth, Elijah's prayers about rain demonstrate that we should pray expectantly. Elijah would have been surprised if God had not answered his prayer. Many Christians are surprised when God does answer prayer.

Finally, Elijah had a place where he met with God daily to pray. He took the lifeless body of the young man upstairs to his chamber for prayer. He knew God had met him there many times before and would again.

If you meet with God in a certain place during times of blessings, you will more surely go there when life's storms assail you, and you will find strength. You do not need to have an entire room or any accessories, just a spot that you know is your meeting place each day with the Lord. He will not fail to show up.

Although the prayer Elijah prayed was not a perfect prayer, God, in His mercy and grace, honored it and gave life to the widow's son. James 5:16 says, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." Elijah's righteousness, like ours, was from the Lord. His prayer life was empowered by following principles that allowed God to work out his difficulties and grant his requests.