Scripture
Genesis 24:12-14
12 And he said, “O LORD, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. 13 Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. 14 Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.”
Observation
This servant of Abraham had been sent to find a bride for Abraham’s son Isaac. He followed his master’s instruction of where to go look for a suitable bride, and then prayed that God would show him the chosen young woman, out of those who were walking out of the village to draw water from the well.
He prayed a specific prayer–that the chosen young woman would offer to draw water also for his camels. Yet his prayer also assumed that God was already moving before his prayer had been prayed! For him to be at the right well, and for the right young woman to be on her way to draw water, required that God had already put the right pieces in place before he ever prayed his prayer.
Application
What a beautiful portrait of prayer! Prayer is not about me convincing God to do that which He doesn’t want to do: Prayer is about bringing my own heart into alignment with the things that God is already doing, and that which He already desires to do. Prayer is about me listening more closely to understand God’s desires: Not me expressing my own desires more emphatically to God.
Today I choose to pray specific, fervent, and intentional prayers. Prayer is a vital lifeline between me and my creator–not so that He will cooperate with me, but so that I may stay aligned with Him.
Prayer
God, thank you for seeing my need before I do. Thank you for moving in power, before I realize it. Thank you for setting the pieces in motion, before I ever ask you to. Help me this week to discern your heart and your desires so that I may stay aligned with you, instead of me simply demanding your cooperation with my plans!
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