Faith in Where God is Leading Us in the New Year

Hebrews 11: 8

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance.  He went without knowing where he was going.

What an amazing example of living in faith is provided by the story of Abraham.  It was a great step of faith for Abraham to leave his family and his homeland in response to God’s calling on his life.  He did not even know where God was leading him.  Yet he faithfully followed the path that the Lord laid out for him.  And for his simple act of faith, he became the father of all nations.

Abraham was called out of his own country.  He was called away from his family.  He was called away from his father's house.  He was called from the only culture that he knew.  It is not likely that God will ask us to follow a similar plan as Abraham.  He is not likely to call us away from relatives, friends and acquaintances.  He is not likely to call us away from the neighbors and neighborhoods where we find our comfort.  In fact, it is quite likely that these are the places that He will call us to serve.  But just like Abraham, we can be assured that we will be challenged in some major way by our calling.

In challenging each of us, God will ask us to take simple steps of faith.  As we respond obediently, He will put before us the next step which usually will require a little more faith in Him and a little more of letting go of faith in ourselves.  We may not become a father of a nation by yielding to our calling, but we will surely gain more than we ever imagined.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for having a unique plan for each of us.  We rejoice in knowing that the reward that You have prepared for us if we respond to Your calling is beyond our imagination.  We pray, Father, that you will give us the strength and guidance to follow the path that you have laid out for each of us.  Even though we may not know our destination, Lord, may your Holy Spirit keep us steadfast in our journey to stand before you in the image of Your Son.  We pray these things in the precious name of the author of our faith, Jesus Christ.