Stepping out in Faith
Easier said than done?
Genesis 22
V1-2
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!"
"Here I am," he replied.
Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." ......
V9-12
When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"
"Here I am," he replied.
"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." .........
V15-18
The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."
Ok, now I may not have a son or daughter yet, but this passage still really hits home.
Imagine being asked to sacrifice the person you love the most, without so much as a reason why!
I can't imagine Abraham would have been best pleased at the idea of killing his own son, whom he loved dearly. Yet he never questioned God, not once. He trusted him completely, and he was wise to do so!
God saw how Abraham was willing to trust God and step out in faith, even if it meant losing a member of his own family. Because of this, God rewarded Abraham in many ways; one of them being his son was spared. :)
Abraham was wise enough to know that God knew best ALL the time! He knew that there would be a reason for what he was about to do, whether he had figured it out yet or not. This should be a massive motive behind our relationship and faith in God. Knowing he has only the best plans for us, means trying our best to fulfil them by obeying him. All a lot easier said than done!
But like most things it gets easier with time and putting it into practice. The more you step out in faith for God, the more benefits you will see.
The passage above gives a very extreme example and I don't believe God would ask things of us that he knows we would not cope with at all. But with God all things are possible!
Praying into it is always the best place to start! Being sure this is God's will and not your "mind -mid-wandering's" will! It can also be a good idea to ask other people to pray for you as well, asking for confirmation in your plans.
The hardest part is once you know what to do: actually doing it!
It may be a small thing like the split second in which you say or share something that you felt needed to be said but weren't sure about the reaction you would get. Or it could be a major decision; finally signing up for that course you had been umming and aaaahhhhing about for ages and discovered it was only you holding yourself back!
Befriending that person everyone else casts aside, at the risk of being cast aside yourself.
All the things that make you cringe with fright at the thought, make you uncomfortable around your friends and take you well out of your comfort zone; are all the things that force you to be fully reliant on God! They may not seem like the best idea in the world at first, but trusting in God means you rarely ever regret it! The only way to overcome the initial fear, is to get out there and do it.
Be willing to hear from God; go into prayer with an open mind and outstretched hands saying, father not my will but yours be done!
Jump, and the net will appear!
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