I love prayer! I always have. It does so many things to my heart. I feel connected to God when I open up to him in prayer. I feel peace when I repent and ask God for forgiveness for a wrong in my life. I feel compassion when I pray for someone in need. I feel excited when a request is met. I grow in my faith through prayer. Prayer is crazy awesome! If you haven’t figured it out yet. I’m a prayer “addict”. Somebody help me! No, don’t! I think it’s a good addiction!
I’ve been reading tonight in Genesis 24. The story opens up with Abraham giving some very important instructions to his chief servant. Find a wife for my son Isaac. Not just any old wife…..a wife from his own country (Israel). This was to be a covenant marriage, so this servant was to follow just what Abraham asked of him. I’m wondering, did he feel pressured here? Would you?
I love this story for a couple reasons. One of which is that very important issue of marrying someone of your own faith and beliefs. I see it all the time. People marrying with completely different faiths. Or even one with no faith while the other considers themself a Christian (this baffles me….because, well….it’s just odd). Whooby, whatty!? This just doesn’t make sense! Someone who doesn’t love God and obey Him…..isn’t going to naturally pick up on that idea just by marrying a nice Christian! The Holy Spirit can do amazing things…..but God’s word is pretty clear about covenant marriage.
The second thing I love about this story has to do with the servant. After following Abraham’s instructions and hauling some really good loot with him on his wife hunting journey. He stops at the well and starts to PRAY! He gets right down to it. He specifically asks God to give him success (for Abraham he loves) and for the girl God has for Isaac to be right there at the right time. He actually goes into some….”when I say to A girl, please let down your jar (he’s at the well, remember) that I may have a drink”…blah, blah, blah! Before he even finishes the prayer…..Rebekah shows up! Oh Lord, how we put you in a box! This story is one worth reading again and again! It ends so very sweet!
If you never felt so obliged before…..I want you to now! When you are praying, BE SPECIFIC! God really does care about what you’re asking of Him. Matthew 7:7 says “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Or this one, “Delight yourself in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” ~ Psalm 37:4,5 He’s on it! God is in the answering business. Sometimes it may not be the exact answer you are seeking (as in the servants situation)…but it will always be the right one for you. Trust Him friend…..and pray!