My life verse is Hebrews 11.1 –
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
The title in my Bible over this verse is FAITH IN ACTION. This weekend I am putting my faith in action. I’m expectantly praying. The Lord is faithful and I know I will feel His presence every step of the way.
As I was reading through my devotionals and trying to choose one this morning, I opened one I had already read but didn’t realize it. God knew I needed it today! Here it is:
A Servant’s Request
Whitney Capps
Genesis 24:14 (NIV) “May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”
This is the first recorded prayer for guidance in Scripture. And what a prayer it was.
First, a little backstory. Genesis 24 recounts how a servant was sent to a neighboring country to find a wife for Isaac. God had told Abraham, Isaac’s father, to leave his homeland years earlier. Now on his deathbed, Abraham wants to make sure that Isaac has a wife from his native land.
What a tremendous task this was for the servant! This wise (and likely overwhelmed) servant begins with prayer. Notice what he prays. He asks first for success in faith-filled humility.
But the servant doesn’t stop there. He asks for God to give him a powerful and miraculous demonstration of His will by directing the servant to a woman who would give him a drink and offer to water his camels. His prayer was specific and expectant.
General requests often receive general responses. Specific prayers let us look for specific answers from God. We don’t want to treat God like some cosmic genie in a bottle to be sure.
But I think I avoid specific prayers because I sometimes doubt God’s capacity to answer specifically. My prayers aren’t influenced by a sense of reverence but by a lack of faith.
I can learn a lot from this bold, prayerful servant. Oh that my prayers would follow his pattern to humbly ask God for success and trust His specific provision.
Prayer: God, today my prayer is specific and hope-filled. Radically change my prayer life, God. Help me to pray audacious, bold prayers. May my prayers reflect my confidence in You. Lord, I want to pray expectantly and specifically so that I can give You all the glory for the answers You alone can give. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
My Moment: What area of your life needs a specific, bold prayer so you can see God’s amazing provision?
My prayer for Chicago is the one in the devotional:
God, today my prayer is specific and hope-filled for Chicago. Radically change my prayer life, God. Help me to pray audacious, bold prayers and my steps as I run for you. May my prayers and my run reflect my confidence in You. Lord, I want to pray and run expectantly and specifically so that I can give You all the glory for the answers You alone can give. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Sidenote: As we left my sister’s house this morning – she called me back in the house. She had the music blaring and she said listen. The song “if you happen to see the most beautiful girl in the world, would you tell her I love her?” was playing. This is song is very special to me. My dad and brother used to sing it to me when I was little to embarrass me. Now, it just brings a smile to my face. Lisa knew it would do the same today. 😀 Tears of joy filled my eyes and I knew God was sending us to Chicago with a blessing-His!
Lisa was an amazing hostess as well. She and John opened their home and treated us royally. It was her birthday yet she treated us like it was ours. Blessed is all I can say!
Legs are shaken out and ready for 26.2 in Chicago!
We ran around Speedway, IN for our shakeout run this morning. We ran past the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for inspiration!!! Speed…God speed!
Early morning in Speedway, IN.
Next stop….
“He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth; he sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.”
Psalm 137.7
Praying for His rain of blessings and winds of strength!
Running blessed!
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