Stepping Out In Faith: Trusting Like Abraham
“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.’” (Genesis 12:1, NLT)
Several years ago, my husband and I felt strongly that we were meant to move.
We had lived in our home for 27 years.
It’s the home where we raised our children, where our daughter was married, and where our son was buried.
It was a home full of memories, laughter, and tears.
But like Abram, we felt God’s call to leave our native home and go to a new place He was calling us to.
After praying and receiving several confirmations, we sold our house, packed up our belongings, including our cat, and moved across the country to a small town in Western Canada.
We often hear about Abraham’s faith and the many ways God met him miraculously throughout his life, sometimes in dire situations.
But imagine the faith Abram must have had the first time he heard from God.
He believed in a God he couldn’t see, had never heard of, and couldn’t prove.
After receiving instructions, he simply obeyed. Talk about trust!
Abram was seventy-five years old when God told him to leave his native country of Haran and go to an unknown place for an unknown reason.
Even though people lived much longer than we do now, he was still an old man, set in his ways.
He would have had a home he loved, neighbours he knew, and a routine he followed.
The Bible describes his faith as crediting him with righteousness before God, not his works but his faith.
What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3, NIV).
I pray for the faith of Abram. I have the privilege of living in a time when we have the Scriptures to guide us.
We have the history of Jesus and His commands.
We have the recorded faith of many, not just Abraham, but of others who faithfully followed God in their lives.
But most importantly, we have our personal experience of faith, expressed through the Holy Spirit, who guides us each day, as well as the Word of God and the wisdom of other believers.
“Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised” (Romans 4:20-21, NIV).
I’m thankful that Abraham’s early days of being called were recorded for us.
His faith in stepping into the unknown gives me the courage to dream big with God and to step out in faith to see where God will lead me.
What is God calling you to do today, in faith?
It may be as simple as praying for a neighbour, texting encouragement to a friend, or stepping into a calling God has been whispering to you.
Behind the Writing Desk...
Hello Friend…Thank you for joining me for a few moments today.
Yesterday’s rain has cooled the summer temperatures and soaking the dry earth.
September - everyone is getting prepared for “Back to School” or Back to Routine as fall programs start up again.
Here are some of my recent highlights…
Chicken Soup for the Soul's “Best Dog Ever” book was released on August 18th, and I have one story published with them! “The Scaredy-Cat Dog” (page 155). Join my Facebook Group for more info.
Later this month, in September, Chicken Soup for the Soul will release one of their Christmas books, “That Christmas Feeling,” and I have TWO stories in it! Stay tuned!
I’ve been working with Andrea Lende of Beatitudes Publishing on an anthology book, “He Loves Me,” which will be released later this fall. Stay tuned!
A podcast interview was aired on September 1st with Engel Jones and “12 Mini Convos with Jesus Believers”. Titled: “Why Deep Grief is the Unexpected Doorway to Your Divine Purpose.” Listen here: https://www.12minconvos.com/blog/podcast-19/kathleen-knapp-225
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