God calls us out. He called Abraham out of his country, from all that was known to him and said, "Go to a land I will show you." God called the Israelites out of Egypt. And walked with them in the desert until such a time as they were ready to accomplish the plans He had for them to conquer the Promised Land.
It seems when God calls us out, He doesn't always make the path perfectly clear. In fact, in the case of the Israelites, it seems the path was very circuitous because of their lack of obedience. I wonder how many times I've walked a path that was much longer than God intended simply because of my tendency to do things my own way, in my own strength and in my own time. Or, how many times has God called me out to watch me freeze on the threshold ~ because "out" is a scary place, full of the unknown and shrouded in mists through which I cannot always see.
I need to remember what is unknown to me is known to God. And when He calls me out, it is always to lead me to a better place ~ a place of blessing. "God is gently calling you from the jaws of trouble to an open place of freedom where He has set your table full of the finest food." Job 36:16. When He calls me out, He goes with me ~ even in the desert place. He asks me to take the step, not to worry about the path or figure out the outcome of the journey. Even when I'm not obedient, He's still there waiting for me to walk in faith. Waiting for me to grab on to all that He has for me. I remind myself of a toddler learning to walk, lurching forward, sometimes away from the very hands that will hold me up if only I will let them.
So, when He calls me out and into the unknown, what's my job? My job is to walk ~ to go and to realize that when He calls me into the unknown, He goes with me and He provides. I don't have to figure it all out. Abraham knew when he was called out and up to the mountain to sacrifice Issac that it was up to God to provide. I need to know that and live it too.
Lord, help me to walk boldly into the unknown with You. Let me listen to your call and be ready to get up and move via the leading of Your Holy Spirit. My earnest prayer is that if Your presence does not go with me, do not lead me up from here. But help me to also realize I may not know what every step of the way is going to look or feel like ~ You do and that's enough for me. Let me be faithful to put one foot in front of the other. Help me to keep my eyes on You. I love you, Lord. Amen.
It seems when God calls us out, He doesn't always make the path perfectly clear. In fact, in the case of the Israelites, it seems the path was very circuitous because of their lack of obedience. I wonder how many times I've walked a path that was much longer than God intended simply because of my tendency to do things my own way, in my own strength and in my own time. Or, how many times has God called me out to watch me freeze on the threshold ~ because "out" is a scary place, full of the unknown and shrouded in mists through which I cannot always see.
I need to remember what is unknown to me is known to God. And when He calls me out, it is always to lead me to a better place ~ a place of blessing. "God is gently calling you from the jaws of trouble to an open place of freedom where He has set your table full of the finest food." Job 36:16. When He calls me out, He goes with me ~ even in the desert place. He asks me to take the step, not to worry about the path or figure out the outcome of the journey. Even when I'm not obedient, He's still there waiting for me to walk in faith. Waiting for me to grab on to all that He has for me. I remind myself of a toddler learning to walk, lurching forward, sometimes away from the very hands that will hold me up if only I will let them.
So, when He calls me out and into the unknown, what's my job? My job is to walk ~ to go and to realize that when He calls me into the unknown, He goes with me and He provides. I don't have to figure it all out. Abraham knew when he was called out and up to the mountain to sacrifice Issac that it was up to God to provide. I need to know that and live it too.
Lord, help me to walk boldly into the unknown with You. Let me listen to your call and be ready to get up and move via the leading of Your Holy Spirit. My earnest prayer is that if Your presence does not go with me, do not lead me up from here. But help me to also realize I may not know what every step of the way is going to look or feel like ~ You do and that's enough for me. Let me be faithful to put one foot in front of the other. Help me to keep my eyes on You. I love you, Lord. Amen.
