Genesis 25:19-26 - Rebekah's son

We are continuing the theme of Praying Big and Believing Big. Once again prayers are storming the gates of Heaven, pleading for a child. This time it is Isaac who was on his knees imploring God to bless him and his wife Rebekah, with a child.

Genesis 25:21 (NIV)
“Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.”

There are many lessons in this text, and here is just a few.

1. Prayer is necessary—we are called to communicate with God regularly, to place our needs and desires at His feet and to believe He will respond. Isaac pleaded with God for children.

2. Prayer is powerful—it is often amazing to look back at some of our prayer requests and see just how those requests were answered. We pray too small, sometimes limiting God. Isaac’s prayers resulted in twins.

3. Prayer is heard—when we pour out our hearts to God and ask for His blessing on our lives we can be certain our words have been heard. But they cannot be heard if they are never uttered or lifted up to God.

4. Prayer is answered—in God’s time. God often has to grow me up in order that I might appreciate His answer to my prayers. Sometimes the answers to my prayers are right before my eyes but until my spiritual eyes are opened I do not recognize what is right before me.

What is your prayer life like? Do you approach God with a laundry list or do you come humbly before Him with a contrite spirit and a loving demeanor? Write down your prayers, and then come back to review your pleas—what do you see? Has God granted your requests, or has He changed your heart; or both? My outlook on prayer has changed over the years. I no longer pray mindlessly, but with every belief that my prayers will be answered; in one fashion or another--but the answer will be perfect.
Read Genesis 25:19-26 here

Listen to Genesis 25:19-26 here