After Abraham left his country,
After Abraham believed the word of God,
After Abraham’s effort to bring about God’s promise failed,
After Abraham encountered God,
After Abraham’s name was changed,
After Abraham made a covenant with God,
After Abraham’s flesh was circumcised,
After Abraham interceded,
Then…the promised son was born.
We see God’s faithfulness. Abraham saw the wait. Within the two was the process.
Leaving. Believing. Failing.
Relationship. Identity change. Commitment.
Cutting away the flesh. Interceding for others. Receiving.
Our process can be much the same. We are given a promise, but we are required to step out of our comfort zone to receive it. Usually, we are happy to take those first steps because we are eager to obtain the great things God has in store.
Then, time passes. Our faith is tested. But we continue to believe.
As we are believing, something comes along side our faith—God’s faithfulness—AND our need to DO. The doing, while it may not quench our faith, does take us down roads that are full of mishaps and potholes—troubles of our own making. We realize we’ve mis-stepped. We’ve failed, but God merely factors the failure into the grand finale of His plan. He knew we’d falter and was waiting to make something beautiful of the fragments of our failings.
On the heels of brokenness, He always shows up. And in the reconnection, He reminds us of His amazing faithfulness. He is still committed to His promise. He is still committed to His purpose. He is still committed to us. His plan is still intact.
We see Him more clearly, and in the new place of intimacy, He speaks a fresh identity over us. Not fresh to Him, but new to us--for He has seen us in this light all along. Now we can see ourselves and our connection to the promise. While we’ve been able to envision the power of God, His ability, His faithfulness, we haven’t quite turned the vision inward. But with our identity change, we call ourselves by a new name and hear our purpose resonating on our own lips. Our faith extends from what we realize God can do, and we begin to see that, in our present state, we are what God has said we would be all along. Our faith connects with our new identity and a fresh covenant immerges.
From the outgrowth of our new relationship, we cut away the flesh in personal sacrifice. The flesh, where our efforts have failed, is removed. Without its excess in the way, we are vulnerable, and full, reliability on God immerges.
It’s a new place of covenant intimacy, God converses with us and shares His bigger picture with us—little reminders of our worth to Him and His plan for our destiny. He shows us how the things that matter to us also matter to Him. With our renewed confidence, we speak as boldly as we listen. We pray big prayers, unafraid to ask, not only that our own promise unfolds, but also that others might be factored into the promise.
The answer is given, a way provided, and in the wait, we are strengthened for service. Used in other ways. We are expanded and broadened with growth that enriches and enlivens us. We are better prepared for the promise. Its environment waits, full and secure. Then, the plan comes to fruition. At the appointed time, the promise is given.
Having developed through the process, we joyfully receive the reward of our endurance, the fulfillment of God’s faithfulness, a promise bigger than what we can grasp—a promise that unfolds eternally.
Tip/Tidbit: Abraham’s focus was on one heir, but God’s plan included multiple generations, many nations in the natural, and spiritual fatherhood to all believers. God’s plan for you are bigger than you imagine, so cling to the promise He has given you through the process and the wait. Only eternity will reveal just how magnificent His promise to you will have been.
After Abraham believed the word of God,
After Abraham’s effort to bring about God’s promise failed,
After Abraham encountered God,
After Abraham’s name was changed,
After Abraham made a covenant with God,
After Abraham’s flesh was circumcised,
After Abraham interceded,
Then…the promised son was born.
We see God’s faithfulness. Abraham saw the wait. Within the two was the process.
Leaving. Believing. Failing.
Relationship. Identity change. Commitment.
Cutting away the flesh. Interceding for others. Receiving.
Our process can be much the same. We are given a promise, but we are required to step out of our comfort zone to receive it. Usually, we are happy to take those first steps because we are eager to obtain the great things God has in store.
Then, time passes. Our faith is tested. But we continue to believe.
As we are believing, something comes along side our faith—God’s faithfulness—AND our need to DO. The doing, while it may not quench our faith, does take us down roads that are full of mishaps and potholes—troubles of our own making. We realize we’ve mis-stepped. We’ve failed, but God merely factors the failure into the grand finale of His plan. He knew we’d falter and was waiting to make something beautiful of the fragments of our failings.
On the heels of brokenness, He always shows up. And in the reconnection, He reminds us of His amazing faithfulness. He is still committed to His promise. He is still committed to His purpose. He is still committed to us. His plan is still intact.
We see Him more clearly, and in the new place of intimacy, He speaks a fresh identity over us. Not fresh to Him, but new to us--for He has seen us in this light all along. Now we can see ourselves and our connection to the promise. While we’ve been able to envision the power of God, His ability, His faithfulness, we haven’t quite turned the vision inward. But with our identity change, we call ourselves by a new name and hear our purpose resonating on our own lips. Our faith extends from what we realize God can do, and we begin to see that, in our present state, we are what God has said we would be all along. Our faith connects with our new identity and a fresh covenant immerges.
From the outgrowth of our new relationship, we cut away the flesh in personal sacrifice. The flesh, where our efforts have failed, is removed. Without its excess in the way, we are vulnerable, and full, reliability on God immerges.
It’s a new place of covenant intimacy, God converses with us and shares His bigger picture with us—little reminders of our worth to Him and His plan for our destiny. He shows us how the things that matter to us also matter to Him. With our renewed confidence, we speak as boldly as we listen. We pray big prayers, unafraid to ask, not only that our own promise unfolds, but also that others might be factored into the promise.
The answer is given, a way provided, and in the wait, we are strengthened for service. Used in other ways. We are expanded and broadened with growth that enriches and enlivens us. We are better prepared for the promise. Its environment waits, full and secure. Then, the plan comes to fruition. At the appointed time, the promise is given.
Having developed through the process, we joyfully receive the reward of our endurance, the fulfillment of God’s faithfulness, a promise bigger than what we can grasp—a promise that unfolds eternally.
Tip/Tidbit: Abraham’s focus was on one heir, but God’s plan included multiple generations, many nations in the natural, and spiritual fatherhood to all believers. God’s plan for you are bigger than you imagine, so cling to the promise He has given you through the process and the wait. Only eternity will reveal just how magnificent His promise to you will have been.
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