A few years ago I was staying with friends in the hills above Pietermaritzburg in South Africa. A number of wildfires were alight in the area because of very dry weather conditions. Some of the fires were raging quite near where people were living. Firefighters were trying to put out the flames, and helicopters were dropping water from the sky.
My friends and I had all attended a Wednesday testimony meeting at a Church of Christ, Scientist, in town earlier that afternoon, and the First Reader had read from the Bible the story of Elijah hiding in a cave but being assured that God was not in earthquake, wind, or fire, which were raging around the mountain (see I Kings 19:9–12). After all these events had passed, Elijah heard a “still small voice.”
When we got back to my friends’ home, I felt impelled to pray with the message of that story. I sat quietly on the veranda and began to pray about the local threat of fires.
In order to pray effectively, I knew I first had to quiet my own thoughts and not be impressed by the physical evidence of fires around me. The Psalmist gave good direction for prayer when he wrote, “Be still, and know that I am God: … I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalms 46:10). I felt I needed to still my thoughts and turn my attention to the truth that God is ever present and all-knowing. The understanding of this truth helps us see beyond the challenges we face to the spiritual facts that bring resolution and healing.
As I quietly prayed to feel more of God’s omnipotence, I had a gentle assurance that all was under divine Love’s control regardless of what the raging of the carnal, or mortal, mind seemed to be claiming. I truly felt a palpable sense of God’s presence and peace.
I remained in prayer until dusk. I knew that others were praying too. Then, just as darkness fell, there was a gentle pitter-patter as rain began to fall. This was quite a good thing because no rain had fallen in that geographic area for a long time. I felt a wonderful sense of peace and calm as the fires were naturally put out, and the whole situation returned to normal. I will never forget this wonderful way God showed me the power of His control and love.
Ann Kenrick
