How To Get God's Attention

Sometimes people act like the 450 prophets of Baal who prayed from morning to evening, shouting, dancing, hurting themselves, and raving to get a response from their god, but no answer came. Why? Because their god is not the true God. It is an idol.

"Then they called on the name of Baal

from morning until noontime, 

shouting, 'O Baal, answer us!'

But there was no reply of any kind.

Then they danced,

hobbling around the altar they had made.

. . . So they shouted louder,

and following their normal custom,

they cut themselves with knives and swords

until the blood gushed out.

They raved all afternoon

until the time of the evening sacrifice,

but still there was no sound,

no reply, no response."

1 Kings 18:26, 28-29 (NIV)

When Elijah prayed, he walked calmly up to the altar, and spoke less than a minute, but God mightily answered. Why? Because his heart was right. His true love was God, not himself, or any other god. He lived a life of self-sacrifice, obedience and servant-hood, so that others too would know Him.

"At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice,

Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed,

'O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,

prove today that you are God in Israel

and that I am your servant.

Prove that I have done all this at your command.

O Lord, answer me! Answer me

so these people will know that you, O Lord, our God

 and that You have brought them back to Yourself.'

Immediately the fire of the Lord

flashed down from heaven

and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust.

It even licked up all the water in the trench!"

1 Kings 18:36-38 (NIV)

It is not the length, the shouting, or the wild gesticulating that get God's attention when we pray. It is our lifestyle and heart's desire.