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The servant commissioned in today’s passage did fulfill his responsibility. When he got to his and show kindness to my master Abraham” (Genesis 24:12). God honored that prayer and granted success. Perhaps you have a specific task: a project, a sale, starting a new business. God invites you to pray about anything, including success in your given task. In fact, not praying for success would seem to dishonor the God who invites you to ask. Norm Miller, principal owner of Interstate Batteries, told me he started praying that God would multiply his company’s marketing expenditures. A few weeks later, a couple in Wisconsin drove their car into a lake. Paul Harvey reported on national radio the next morning that, when the wrecker pulled the car out, the headlights and wipers were still working. He announced the car had an Interstate Battery. Suddenly, the brand rocketed onto the national scene. I see a link with Norm’s prayer asking God to multiply his advertising dollars.  MIMBS 11 56 Wednesday—September 27•Praying for Success Abraham...said to the senior servant in his household, “....I want you to swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.” (Genesis 24:1–4) master’s homeland, he prayed, “Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, What are some specific needs or tasks in your work that you need to pray for? Share these with some brothers and pray for each other. Daily Reading: Isaiah 51:1–53:12, Ephesians 5:1–33, Psalm 69:19–36, Proverbs 24:7 Thursday—September 28•Praying Against a Specific Threat Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?” The LORD answered him, “Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.” (2 Samuel 5:18–19) When David faced a threat, his first reaction was prayer. Most of us have faced or will face some sort of hazard. Like David, our response should be prayer. Pray when you don’t know what to do, but pray also when you think you already know how to proceed. You want to be familiar with talking with the Lord, so you know what it’s like when He answers. The Bible says we should pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18). I know two businessmen in my hometown who are very good friends. They talk on the phone several times a day. I’ve heard them chat, and I’ve noticed a familiarity and affection in their conversation. I’m good friends with both of them, but I only talk with them once a week or so. My relationship with them is very different than the relationship they have with each other. It’s the same with Jesus. If you only talk every now and then, you won’t have the same relationship you could have if you’re chatting throughout the day. As you talk to Jesus about things foremost in your mind, you’ll find your relationship growing deeper.  MIMBS 11 Describe a time when you faced some sort of danger or hazard. What was your first response when you recognized the threat? Daily Reading: Isaiah 54:1–57:14, Ephesians 6:1–24, Psalm 70:1–5, Proverbs 24:8


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