Blog Layout
Abraham's Faith Walk
Andrea Lende • May 6, 2021
Hebrews 11:8
Abraham’s Faith
You can also listen the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/Abrahams-Faith-Walk-e10b3h5
Hebrews 11:8
“[Urged on] by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go.”
Abraham had an extraordinary amount of faith.
God called him out of his homeland when he was seventy-five years old.
The Lord’s plan was to bless him, but He required Abraham leave his home and his family first.
And God didn’t tell him exactly where he was to go.
The Lord planted a seed.
A seed of hope.
He told Abraham He would build a great nation for him, he would be famous, distinguished, and he would bless many people.
But God didn’t tell him how.
Many times, the Lord plants a seed in our hearts.
He shows us something big.
Something really, really big.
But He doesn’t tell us how.
We, however, want the details.
We want to know how this is all going to be done.
Sometimes if I don’t get the details, I can get stopped.
I may not have the courage to move forward because I feel like I don’t have the whole plan.
However, our scripture shows us that when God gives us the first step, we need to take it.
We don’t need to know the next step.
We just need to take the first step, because if we don’t start moving, there is no next step.
The Lord continued to lead and guide Abraham through every town, place, and land.
He simply had to start on his journey.
Our verse says, “he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go.”
We have to get past having to know the whole plan, and just take the first step.
Fix our minds on what lies ahead.
Today I choose to look ahead and follow God’s next command.
May you find as You follow God’s voice, He will lead you to the next step and guide you into His storehouse of blessings and promises.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for showing me more about a faith walk. Thank You for showing me I need to follow You and Your voice. Thank you for showing me You have planned my steps, but I do not need to know all the steps You have planned. Help me take the next step, Father. Increase my faith so I can walk into the plan You have made for me. Do not let me shrink from Your plan. Help me do everything You have for me to do. Strengthen me so I may serve You powerfully, Father. Clear my mind and open my heart to You. Help me seek You in all ways. Help me rely on You for everything I need. Keep me at Your feet. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM with you My child and I will direct your steps and bless you along your way.
Response: Thank You, most gracious and Almighty God.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.