Asking for an opportunity and staying alert, like Abraham's servant

There is a difference between waiting for an opportunity and asking for one. Someone who waits watches events go by. Someone who asks knows there will be one, and stands ready. This quest invites you to make a specific request in the morning, then to watch your day the way you watch for a sign.

What it looks like in your day

The approach has three steps, spread over the day:

Morning: ask. Say to God, in one sentence: "Lord, give me an opportunity today to speak of you to someone, in a simple and natural way." Specify if you wish: with a colleague, a neighbor, a relative.

At noon: look. Take a quick stock. Was there a moment when the conversation came close to the meaning of life, a hardship, a question of faith? Even a small remark from someone?

In the evening: reread. With God, go back over your day. What did you notice? Did you seize something? If you saw nothing, ask him to sharpen your eyes for tomorrow.

The essential point is this: you force nothing. You are training yourself to lift your head. Most opportunities go unnoticed simply because we weren't expecting to see any. Once you have made the request, your attention changes.

If you are in a hurry, the morning request is enough. If you are shy, remember that seizing an opportunity can simply mean saying one small true thing, or offering to pick the conversation up later.

What the Bible says

Abraham's servant, sent to find a wife for Isaac, prays like this beside a well:

“And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.”

He asks to meet, that very day, what he longs for, and he decides, simply, what he will watch for: a young woman who will offer water to his camels. Then he watches, without hurrying. Rebekah arrives. He didn't try to force the story: he asked, then kept watch. Paul invites us to the same vigilance:

“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;”

"Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving": prayer is not only a request, it is a watch. And the book of Acts shows the Spirit directing Peter toward unexpected visitors (Acts 10:19-20): all it took was being attentive.

Pitfalls to avoid

Forcing opportunities. A conversation pushed by force rings false. If the opportunity doesn't come, give thanks anyway.

Confusing opportunity with obligation. An opportunity is a possibility, not an order. You can seize it, postpone it, or let it pass while praying for the person.

Getting discouraged by a blank day. There will be days with nothing. The request is still useful: it keeps your attention alive.

Expecting something spectacular. Opportunities most often look like an offhand remark, a question, a sigh.

Forgetting to listen. An opportunity isn't about talking, but about responding to an opening. Listen first to what the person says.

Tomorrow morning, put your request into one sentence. Keep your eyes open, and review your day in the evening.