PRAY
Got to – GET TO
Part 9 – PRAY
Genesis 24:1-27 NLT
Abraham was now a very old man, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. 2 One day Abraham said to his oldest servant, the man in charge of his household, “Take an oath by putting your hand under my thigh. 3 Swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women. 4 Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.”
5 The servant asked, “But what if I can’t find a young woman who is willing to travel so far from home? Should I then take Isaac there to live among your relatives in the land you came from?”
6 “No!” Abraham responded. “Be careful never to take my son there. 7 For the Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and my native land, solemnly promised to give this land to my descendants.[a] He will send his angel ahead of you, and he will see to it that you find a wife there for my son. 8 If she is unwilling to come back with you, then you are free from this oath of mine. But under no circumstances are you to take my son there.”
9 So the servant took an oath by putting his hand under the thigh of his master, Abraham. He swore to follow Abraham’s instructions. 10 Then he loaded ten of Abraham’s camels with all kinds of expensive gifts from his master, and he traveled to distant Aram-naharaim. There he went to the town where Abraham’s brother Nahor had settled. 11 He made the camels kneel beside a well just outside the town. It was evening, and the women were coming out to draw water.
12 “O Lord, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham. 13 See, I am standing here beside this spring, and the young women of the town are coming out to draw water. 14 This is my request. I will ask one of them, ‘Please give me a drink from your jug.’ If she says, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!’—let her be the one you have selected as Isaac’s wife. This is how I will know that you have shown unfailing love to my master.”
15 Before he had finished praying, he saw a young woman named Rebekah coming out with her water jug on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, who was the son of Abraham’s brother Nahor and his wife, Milcah. 16 Rebekah was very beautiful and old enough to be married, but she was still a virgin. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came up again.17 Running over to her, the servant said, “Please give me a little drink of water from your jug.”
18 “Yes, my lord,” she answered, “have a drink.” And she quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and gave him a drink. 19 When she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels, too, until they have had enough to drink.” 20 So she quickly emptied her jug into the watering trough and ran back to the well to draw water for all his camels.
21 The servant watched her in silence, wondering whether or not the Lord had given him success in his mission. 22 Then at last, when the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring for her nose and two large gold bracelets[b] for her wrists.
23 “Whose daughter are you?” he asked. “And please tell me, would your father have any room to put us up for the night?”
24 “I am the daughter of Bethuel,” she replied. “My grandparents are Nahor and Milcah. 25 Yes, we have plenty of straw and feed for the camels, and we have room for guests.”
26 The man bowed low and worshiped the Lord. 27 “Praise the Lord, the God of my master, Abraham,” he said. “The Lord has shown unfailing love and faithfulness to my master, for he has led me straight to my master’s relatives.”
1. When you realize the situation is bigger than you, pray.
Abraham’s servant recognized he could not accomplish this assignment in his own wisdom, so his first response was prayer.
· Genesis 24:12 — “Then he prayed, ‘O Lord, God of my master Abraham, give me success today…’”
· Psalm 121:1-2 — “My help comes from the Lord…”
· Philippians 4:6 — "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God".
2. Short, specific prayers reach heaven.
His prayer in Genesis was not long or elaborate, it was direct, focused, and heartfelt.
· Genesis 24:12-14 — His prayer is brief but precise.
· Matthew 6:7-8 — Jesus teaches that many words are not what move God.
· Nehemiah 2:4-5 — Nehemiah offers a quick “arrow prayer” before answering the king.
3. Don’t be afraid to be specific when you pray.
The servant asked for a clear sign, trusting God could answer in a tangible way.
· Genesis 24:14 — “Let her be the one…” (a very specific request)
· John 14:13-14 — “Ask whatever you wish in my name…”
· James 1:5 — Ask specifically for wisdom when you need it.
4. Don’t forget to give God praise for the answered prayer.
Before the story moves forward, the servant stops to worship and give thanks.
Genesis 24:26-27 — “Then the man bowed down his head and worshiped the Lord. And he said, “Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.”
Psalm 103:1-2 — “Forget not all His benefits.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 — “Give thanks in all circumstances.”
Pray → Be specific → Trust → Praise.
Types of Prayer:
1. Prayer of Adoration (Praise & Worship)
Honoring God simply for who He is.
· Book of Psalms 95:6 — “Come, let us bow down in worship…”
· Book of Matthew 6:9 — “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…”
2. Prayer of Thanksgiving
Expressing gratitude for what God has done.
· First Thessalonians 5:18
· Book of Philippians 4:6
3. Prayer of Confession (Repentance)
Acknowledging sin and seeking forgiveness.
· First Epistle of John 1:9
· Book of Psalms 51
4. Prayer of Supplication (Petition)
Bringing personal needs before God.
· Book of Philippians 4:6
· Gospel of Matthew 7:7
5. Prayer of Intercession
Praying on behalf of others.
· First Epistle to Timothy 2:1
· Moses interceding in Book of Exodus 32:11-14
· Jesus’ interceding in Epistle to the Hebrews 7:25
6. Prayer of Faith
Praying in trust and confident dependence on God.
· Epistle of James 5:15
· Gospel of Mark 11:24
7. Prayer of Lament
Pouring out grief, confusion, or pain before God.
· Much of Book of Psalms
· Book of Lamentations
· Job
This is such a profound and often overlooked form of prayer.
8. Prayer of Listening (Waiting/Silence Before God)
Prayer is not only speaking, but listening.
· Book of Psalms 46:10 — “Be still…”
· First Book of Samuel 3:10 — “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”
9. Prayer of Agreement (Corporate Prayer)
Believers praying together in unity.
· Gospel of Matthew 18:19-20
· Acts of the Apostles 4:24-31
10. Prayer in the Spirit
Prayer led or energized by the Holy Spirit.
· Epistle to the Ephesians 6:18
· Epistle to the Romans 8:26-27
· Epistle of Jude 20
Two closing reminders:
“Pray from victory, and not for victory.”
“The Father wants to hear from you, as much as you need to hear from him.”
So let’s PRAY, because we get to!