prayer

A Quick Answer

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In Genesis 24, we find Abraham getting much older in age and being blessed by the Lord in all that he did. So he calls for a servant to come over and makes the servant promise to God that he will find a wife for his son Isaac from their home country and not from the land that they were staying in. In addition to that, the servant needed to bring the wife back to Isaac, because he could not go into the land of the old country.

The servant made the promise, then took ten camels and went on a journey to the place where Abraham had come from. When the servant arrived in that land in the evening, he had the camels kneel by a well and he prayed that the Lord would reveal Isaac’s wife to the servant. He prayed that the young woman who was to marry him would offer the servant some water from the well and offer to water his camels as well.

Before the servant even finished his prayer, Rebekah came by and did just that. The servant saw that she was beautiful and that she was unwed, but he remained quiet as he sought confirmation from God to make sure that this was indeed Isaac’s wife.

Once he knew for sure, the servant gave Rebekah some gold bracelets and a nose ring and asked Rebekah who her family was and if he could stay with them. Rebekah took the servant to meet her family and let him know that they had lodging for his camels too. Her family invited the servant into the house to eat and tell of his journey. After he finished telling them his story, Rebekah’s father and brother told the servant that she could go with him to be Isaac’s wife. The servant worshipped God for his prayers had been answered.

The servant stayed with them that night, then got up early in the morning ready to go. Rebekah’s brother tried to delay the servant saying that Rebekah would go with him in 10 days, not immediately. The servant was not having it with the foolishness, so they called Rebekah out to ask her what she thought. She said that she would go with the servant that day, so she left that day with her maids.

Isaac was out meditating in a field near his home when he saw the camels coming towards him. He got up and went to meet them. The servant told Isaac of all that had happened, then Isaac took Rebekah as his wife and he loved her. He found comfort in his wife after his mother’s death.

What I find encouraging here is God’s faithfulness to answer prayers. The servant had a task to do and instead of just doing it on his own with his own way of thinking, he turned to the Lord in prayer. He knew that God’s ways were better than his. And you know what? God brought an answer to him before his prayer was even done.

God loves to hear from His children in prayer and loves to answer those prayers. Sometimes it is a quick answer like for the servant, and sometimes it takes years and years for the answer to appear like with God’s promise to give Sarah and Abraham a son. Be encouraged in prayer knowing that God will answer you. Weather quickly or slowly, just trust that God loves you and the answer is on the way.

Real Talk – Confidence

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This is a departure from the usual Chapter by Chapter Bible study series, but I think it’s important to discuss. A lot of people struggle with speaking up about their faith or owning their decissions, especially when it comes to their identities in Christ. I too have struggled with this from time to time. The thought of what if someone doesn’t like me, or they will think I’m weird or people will talk about me come popping in my head from time to time, but here are some conclusions I’ve come to in my walk with God.

If my life ministers to someone else, if I can help them by sharing what I know, then who cares what other people think?

Will people make fun of me? Yup! But they were doing that behind my back anyways. Who cares?

The people that like me will still like me. The ones that don’t can go bother someone else. I care not about haters, I care about doing what I am purposed to do.

GOD LOVES YOU!

Your brothers and sisters in Christ love you. You family (by blood or by choice) love you. Your friends love you. The people that really love you are never going to stop loving you, just like you wouldn’t stop loving them. They know who you are already, so walk in that identity.

Be confident.

Be confident that you are loved.

Be confident in who you are.

Be confident in what you will do.

Will mistakes be made? Sure will! But that’s how you learn, how you grow, and how you improve yourself. Everyone makes mistakes – it’s okay! The only ones that will attack you are the ones that feel threatened, jealous, or just love misery. Stay strong.

“The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy. I [Jesus] came that you may have life and have it abundantly.” – John 10:10 NIV

“Be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. Let your joy overflow! And let gentleness be seen in every relationship, for our Lord is ever near. Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell Him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ.” – Philippians 4:4-7 TPT

Be encouraged to walk out your purpose with God today. You are not alone. Opposition will come, but that’s when you pray and stand your ground. You were created to be victorious. You were created in God’s image, and that is beautiful. So don’t hide your beauty and don’t hide your talents or your purpose. You got this and God’s got you!

The Integrity of the Heart

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In Genesis chapter 20, we find Abraham and his wife Sarah traveling even further South to a new land and going back to old ways. Abraham tells the people of the new land that Sarah is his sister and the King of that land, Abimelech, decides to take her as his wife. This is now the second time something like this has happened. Sarah must have been really beautiful because at this point she was 90 years old and King Abimelech still wanted to be with her.

When King Abimelech goes to sleep, God talks to him about Sarah and reveals that she is already married to Abraham. Abimelech is shocked and says to God, “Hey I didn’t sleep with her, I didn’t touch her, I didn’t do anything and your boy Abraham said she was his sister and even she said she was his sister, so I believed them.” After saying he didn’t do anything wrong, Abimelech asks God to spare his life and God says he’ll keep him safe and that’s why He didn’t let Abimelech sleep with Sarah in the first place.

After his conversation with God, got up early and went to Abraham and asked him why he lied about his wife. Abraham said he lied because he was scared for his life because he thought he was going to a godless place, a place that didn’t know the difference between right and wrong. Clearly he was wrong, because Abimelech spoke to the Lord and was there to make things right. Abimelech gave Abraham some livestock, servants, silver, and returned his wife and told Abraham that he could live anywhere in the land and that Sarah’s innocence was vindicated (the silver was a symbol of that). After that, Abraham prayed to God and God made it so all the women in Abimelech’s kingdom could have children again, because the entire time Sarah was there, they had been barren.

I think there’s three major takeaways here. The first one is, if this part of the story feels familiar like you’re reliving it, take a look at the choices you’re making. If Abraham would have told the truth, this story would be vastly different than Chapter 12, but he chose to say that his wife was his sister again. If you keep reliving the same chapter of your life over and over again, take a look at the decisions you’re making to see what’s getting you to end up there.

The second takeaway is the importance of integrity. Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. Even when you could get away with doing something bad because of a technicality, you don’t do it. Even if someone did something that wrongs you, you continue to be upright in your actions. That’s exactly what Abimelech did. Even though Abraham lied to him, Abimelech still went to vindicate Sarah’s innocence. He didn’t lash out, he didn’t keep Sarah for himself, he didn’t punish anyone. He kept his moral uprightness and made things right, even apologizing in a place where he had been wronged.

And the last takeaway is that prayer is powerful. In the last two verses of this chapter, Abraham prays and women who were barren are able to conceive again. That right there is a miracle.

So I leave you with this, be encouraged because even if you make the same mistakes over and over again, there is always another chapter in the book of life and in that new chapter you can choose to take a different path. You can chose to be integral and you can pray about any situation and know that God will hear you and will answer your prayers. The answer might not be what you want to hear, but he will answer you so keep on praying.