Watching Quietly, Praying Silently
The sermon emphasizes the importance of trusting God by watching quietly and praying silently, and how this can lead to a successful journey and confidence in God's guidance.
Elisabeth Elliot emphasizes the importance of trust, obedience, prayer, and quiet observation in discerning God's guidance, drawing from the story of the servant sent by Abraham to find a wife for Isaac. The servant's faithfulness in prayer and silent observation led to the successful fulfillment of his mission, showcasing the power of seeking God's will in all circumstances.
Text
The man whom Abraham sent to find a wife for his son Isaac had been long in Abraham's service. No doubt he had learned much of trust and obedience through watching his master walk with God. He set out on his mission, confident that God would help him.
Beside the Well of Aram of Two Rivers he halted his camels and was praying silently when a beautiful young woman appeared with her water jar on her shoulder. She responded to his request as he had prayed she would, and he watched quietly to see whether the Lord had made his journey successful (Gn 24:21).
Very possibly we often miss what God wants to show us because we don't take time to pray silently and watch quietly. It was by doing those two things, along with the obvious practical things (let us not leave those undone) that the servant was able to say, "I have been guided by the Lord" (Gn 24:27 NEB).
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Trust and Obedience
- The Power of Silent Prayer
- The Result of Trusting God
- The servant's success in finding a wife
- The servant's confidence in God's guidance
Key Quotes
“Very possibly we often miss what God wants to show us because we don't take time to pray silently and watch quietly.” — Elisabeth Elliot
“It was by doing those two things, along with the obvious practical things (let us not leave those undone) that the servant was able to say, 'I have been guided by the Lord'” — Elisabeth Elliot
Application Points
- Take time to pray silently and watch quietly for God's guidance in your life.
- Remember that obedience is an essential part of trusting God and following His will.
- Have confidence in God's guidance and provision, and trust that He will make your journey successful.