The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people, and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on the earth will be blessed through you. So Abram left, as the Lord had told him......
Genesis 12:1-4 (NIV)
God asked Abram to separate himself.....to leave all that he knew (his country, people, & household), all that he was comfortable with, to go to a place that he knew nothing about. For that matter, he didn't even know where he was going because God had yet to show him. Abram obeyed simply out of faith that God had a plan and would be with him every step of the way.
While God may not be asking us to physically move from our current location, He very much is asking the same thing of us. How is that, you ask?
First, as His children, God asks us to separate ourselves.....to set ourselves apart from the world......to be different.....to get out of our comfort zone.
Secondly, God has a divine purpose and plan for each and every one of us. Often He will ask us to do things that don't make much sense to us.........but we can't always see the whole picture or the final destination. It's at those times, that God asks us to simply walk by faith......to trust Him and His guidance. It's not always an easy task, but one thing is for sure, if we will trust and obey God, He'll bless us beyond our wildest dreams!
If your going through a difficult time right now and feel that you're all alone, or if what God is asking you to do just doesn't make sense, here are few promises to hold on to:
1) God promises to NEVER leave us or forsake us. (Joshua 1:5)
2) He also says this, "For I know the plans I have for you.....plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)
3) Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose."
4) And finally, Philippians 1:6 reminds us, "that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
It's so comforting to know that our loving Father only wants the best for us and that He'll be with us every step of the way! We must only walk!
