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photo © 2007 Daniel Catt | more info (via: Wylio)We can learn a lot about trusting God with our parenting from Abraham and Isaac.
Genesis 22:1 says, "Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
God called out to Abraham, and Abraham responded immediately. God called. Abraham responded. Why? Because they are close friends. Abraham's heart was full of love for God.
Most of my life, I wasn't that close to God. I was saved. There were even seasons of closeness. But there were also times when God called and I just didn't hear him. It was like our friendship had slipped away -- not because of him, but because of me. I didn't make time for God. And what happened? I became fearful for my kids. I worried about everything -- even whether I could survive a trip to the grocery store. I got depressed, badly enough that I wouldn't get out of bed to shower or care for my young children. Life seemed so hard. But, that was my choice. Not God's plan.
How about you? What's your relationship with God? Do you respond immediately when He calls, like Abraham? Or does your life look more like mine did -- full of fear, loneliness and worry -- because you don't hear God's whisper of love every day?
In John 15:5, Jesus says, "I am the vine and you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." God's desire is for our lives to be filled with fruit. When we love others in the love of Christ, they can discover a relationship with him, too. We walk confidently through the storms of life (finances, health, relationships), and others see our strong faith and become curious enough to check it out for themselves.
When we walk in fear -- unwilling to trust God with our kids' lives, our finances, our health, or whatever, we ignore him. We don't hear his voice calling. We don't respond. Life gets hard. No fruit.
We have a choice: Walk alone in fear or walk confidently in Christ.
Choosing Christ means:
1. Giving our fears to him -- even if we have to do it again and again, we keep trying until we finally hand them over and let him keep carrying them. It doesn't matter what our fears are, finances, relationships, job, or KIDS! First Peter 5:7 says, "Cast all your anxiety on me, for I care for you." Jesus died on that cross so that we could live forgiven AND free from worry -- because we know how the story ends. Heaven! Rejoicing! PARTY!
2. Shining our light for others -- When Jesus carries our fears, it frees us from the burden of worry. We can "rejoice in the Lord always." (Phil. 4:4) We don't rejoice in our circumstances -- whether they be good or bad. We rejoice IN THE LORD True joy is not found in what we have in this lifetime, it is found in our eternal relationship with Jesus. Again -- we are forgiven, Jesus carries our burdens, and we know how the story ends. It's up to us to live FOR JESUS so others can know Him too!
If you, like I did, face fears, pray to God. Ask Him to fill you with His love -- to the deepest corners of your heart. Ask Him to help you remember that Jesus died so you don't have to live in fear or worry. Ask Him to help you grow in trust -- and see Him more and more each day. You have a choice: walk alone in fear or walk confidently in Christ.
Wouldn't it be nice to know God the way Abraham did? He calls. We answer. Immediately.
The story continues at American "Idol" (Part 3).
1 comments:
Great Post Karen!
Reading your post, I'm reminded of my pastor preaching one Sunday that if a stranger called his house and spoke to his young son telling him it was his Dad...his son would say "No it's Not!"
Why? Because his son knows his Dad's voice and would recognize an impostor immediately!!!
My fear comes into play with making decisions. I live in fear of making the right one. I live in fear of conversations that I have with others being misunderstood and taken the wrong way. My mind is constantly on the defense of what choices I've made. I worry about what others will think of me instead of what my heavenly father thinks.
"Walk alone in fear or walk confidently in Christ." spoke volumes to me. I need to walk with Christ daily and listen to his voice (the Bible) and filter all of my decisions through Him, my friend. Then and only then can I let go of the worry and not be so concerned with what others think of me. After all if the maker of all the world and the ONLY one who can forgive me of my sins is walking with me and approves of me...why would I hold so much weight of others opinions????
You post was the tool God used to pierced my heart today.
-D-
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