One Thing

{Daily Selah}

Moses led his people out of slavery. 

Joshua led his people to victory in battle after battle. 

David slew his Goliath.

Elijah called down fire from heaven.



We read of great heroes of the faith in the Bible and think, "Well, that was them. I will never be able to do anything great for God."

Every one of them was a fallible human being. Just like you. Just like me. 

Do you know the one thing that set them apart and made them ready to be used by God for great things? 

Leonard Ravenhill learned their secret through his study of the Word of God and, as a result, became a great evangelist, preacher, teacher and writer for God's glory. 

What was it that set Moses, Joshua, David, Elijah, Leonard Ravenhill and other great men and women of God apart?

Prayer. 

That's it? Prayer?

Several of Moses' prayers are recorded for us in scripture, but let's just look at one. Psalm 90 is subtitled, "A Prayer of Moses, the man of God."

LORD, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God (Psalm 90:1-2).

Only a man who had spent great amounts of time in God's presence would pray in such a way. 

Joshua fell on his face before the Lord and stayed there all day, interceding on behalf of his people until the evening, when God told him to get up (Joshua 7:6-10).

Many of David's prayers are recorded in the Psalms. He prayed for protection, guidance, mercy, help, forgiveness and much more (Psalm 3,5,6,13,51).

Elijah was very deliberate in preparing for his times of prayer. The day he challenged the pagan prophets on Mount Carmel, he first took time to rebuild an altar for the Lord. Then, he prayed powerfully and effectively.

Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again (1 Kings 18:36-37). 

Elijah's focus and that of each of the great saints of old was the glory of God. They knew that the only way they could give God glory was to humble themselves before Him and spend time in His presence. 

They knew what Leonard Ravenhill discovered many years later. 

"To be much FOR GOD, we must be much WITH GOD."


You and I may not ever face a giant, or do spiritual warfare with human representatives of evil or go into battle against Philistines, but we are all called to serve God, wherever He has placed us. And, the only way we can accomplish whatever great purpose He has for our lives, for His glory, is to to spend much time with Him.

One Thing.


Father, thank You for giving us the witness of those who have served You in time past. Help us to humble ourselves before You and spend more time on our faces in Your presence, so we will be ready to do Your will, for Your glory. In Jesus' Name, amen. 



{Daily Selah} is a mini-devotional, a pause to ponder about the Lord and how He wants us to live.