God, I Pray Thee

He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, "The Lord will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided."

                        --Genesis 22:2, 9-14

While I was reading this I thought about how dedicated Abraham was. Here he stood before his one and only son, prepared to sacrifice him for his God; the same God that had promised this young boy to him. Yet his faith was unwavering. Abraham knew what he had to do, and throughout the completion of the task he never second-guessed his actions.

This summer I have been begging God to give me something to do, ok, well begging is kind of an over statement. I have many hopes for what I want this summer, and how I want God to work in my life, but how genuine are these desires. I call out to God to show me something to do, and apart from a one week long commitment, nothing has presented itself. I beg for God to draw me near to Him, and then run in the opposite direction. Yet, here was a man who was finally given a son, something that he had waited for for years, and now God was preparing to take it away from him.

How will I react when God finally does answer my prayers and give me something to do this summer? Will I listen and be attentive to what he has for me, or will I run in the opposite direction as I have been doing all my life.

Oh Lord, my God, root me in your word. Allow me to ground myself in you, and look only to you. Direct my eyes from the meaningless things, and allow me to pursue you in all that I do. Allow me to see that plans that you have for me. Make me willing to obey all that you have for me, and that I will not flinch in the face of mediocrity.

How will I respond when God calls out to me? Will I act as Abraham did and follow the confusing, and baffling direction of God; or will I turn my own way, the easy way.

“God I pray thee, light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn for thee. Consume my life my God for it is thine. I seek not a long life but a full one like you Lord Jesus.” ~Jim Elliot

God I pray that you would consume me from the inside out, and make me a reflection of you. Cleanse me of all unrighteousness, and make me cling to you. Allow my life, and my story be a witness, and a means for people to come to You. God I pray that you would give me opportunities to share the Gospel this summer, and I pray that when these opportunities arise, that I would be able to see them and take full advantage of them. God allow me to be a means to bring restoration to this broken world.

Break my heart for what breaks Yours, everything I am for your kingdoms cause.