And he said to his servant,

"Go up now,

     look toward the sea."

And he went up and looked

and said,

            "There is nothing."

And he said, "Go again,"

        seven times.

And the seventh time he said,

   "Behold,

    a little cloud like a man's hand

                is rising from the sea."

                1 Kings 18. 43-44

(Pray,

trust God,

and carry a big umbrella.

Have I covered this situation

              in prayer

   or coveted a particular answer?

Have I resolved not just that  

  God will answer in His good time

                          and design,

and submit not just to God's response,

      but to God Himself?

The situation may not yet be ready,

       nor our hearts

       that we would worship God

                   and not an answer.

The servant replied the first time,

                   "There is nothing."

But God responds,

           "Now watch this!")

O LORD,

Guide us not just to an answer,

  but lead us to You.

Help us to trust You

  as You unfold Your glory.

We are so myopic

            in what we pray.

Your miracles are

       not just the visible

  but how we trust You.

Prayer is not a magic button

   to get what we want,

   but how we know You more.