*ZION'S TRAVAIL.*(Series 6) *Scripture Reading:* 1 King 18:41-43 *"Now Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of the roar of an abundance of rain.” So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he crouched down to the earth and put his face between his knees, and he said to his servant, “Go up, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” Elijah said, “Go back” seven times.*(AMP) Blessed be the name of the Lord who has not giving us as prey to the enemy. His mercy and compassion fail not, they are new every morning, Great is thy faithfulness oh Lord for yet another gift of life! Thank you Jesus. It's my joy to welcome you to another Great week of beautiful happenings in your life in Jesus Christ name. Amen! We started looking at principles of travailing yesterday, I shall continue from where I stopped yesterday. *2) God's touch may sometimes be painful, admire it, it won't last long:* Elijah in our today's scripture, ordered Ahab to go up to eat and drink to prepare him for the journey and that's why he travailed in prayer for it to rain in abundance. To prevail means to "prove superior in strength, power or influence, to succeed or becomes dominant." Elijah's prayer position was unusual but painful. Because he want the unusual occurrence to happen, is ready to pay the price not minding if it's painful and costly. Verse 42 of the scripture says; *"While Ahab went to eat, Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel, where he bowed down to the ground, with his head between his knees."*(GOOD NEWS VERSION). Underlying *'WHERE HE BOWED DOWN TO THE GROUND, WITH HIS HEAD BETWEEN HIS KNEES.'* To pray in that position is painful and for Elijah to be in that position praying, it means, he had prayed long before finding himself in that position. Remember he asked his servant to check the cloud seven times before it eventually about to rain. *Process of travailing in prayers may sometimes be painful but gainful.* About sixteen years ago while I was a student at C.O.E.D Ilorin and as a student, I joined fellowship of christian student (FCS) right there in the campus. That very year, one of our past fellowship president came visiting suddenly and took all the workers including myself to Micheal imodu's mountain right there at Ilorin. We are there on that mountain for three days marathon and at around 1pm everyday when the rock is extra ordinary hot, he will asked everyone to roll up their trousers and kneed on that hot rock. *It was indeed painful but gainful today.* To be continue tomorrow morning by God's Grace. Good morning and do have a fruitful week, peace. *Prayer Point:* Father, help me to pay the price of prevailing even when is painful, I receive Grace in Jesus Christ name. Amen! T.S. AFOLAYAN