January 30

January 30

Isaac & Rebekah -- The servant's prayer for God's direction & God's guidance.

Today's Readings:

Reading 1: Genesis 24

Reading 2: Psalm 37:3-8

Reading 3: Proverbs 3:5-6

As the story of God's covenant with Abraham unfolds, we see God's faithfulness to Isaac. This chapter has much to teach us about guidance. Notice how the servant follows his instructions carefully, but also how much his master trusts him. The servant asks God to guide him in specific ways, and God is pleased to do so. Clearly, this household has learned to trust God and live in a close relationship with Him.

Our cross-references in the Psalms and Proverbs relate to this principle also: "delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart" and  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take."

Both of these scriptures have been directional for me in my life. God used the Psalm 37 verses to call me into ministry after a one-year training course - my heart was torn between the educational path I knew my family would understand and the ministry path that I felt God was calling me to take. As I delighted myself in God, the heart desire to be in ministry increased, the desire to train as a teacher decreased, and the door opened for me to work in a church; the guidance was complete. A year later, I met Jane!

Let's also remember the warning in these verses: don't trust your own understanding. That is a trap I have to ask the Holy Spirit to keep me from constantly! God has designed us to listen to His wisdom and to obey His guidance. Today's story shows the fruit of such a close relationship. May it be so in each of our lives.

Have a great day!

Mark.