AT TIMES, WE HAVE MORE FAITH IN OUR PLAN THAN IN GOD'S PLAN FOR US
- Key Verse
"Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; so she said to Abram, 'The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.' Abram agreed to what Sarai said." (Genesis 16:1-2)
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Central Truth
Abram and Sarai took a painful detour because of their lack of faith in God's plan for them and their family. They did not have faith God would provide them with a child, so they took matters into their own hands.
Reflections
In Genesis 15, God promised Abram a son from his own body. In chapter 16, Sarai shared her fear with Abram that she felt God had kept her from having children. Sarai then encouraged Abram to sleep with their maidservant, Hagar. Abram agreed to sleep with Hagar.
I can relate to this story because so often in my own life, I find myself making decisions based on what I think is best rather than what God is calling our family to. We are a very impatient society that loves to gratify our own desires right away. This is very convicting to me because I can look at my life and say, at times, I live life like I don't need Him. I have all my needs taken care of; I have food, a place for my family to sleep at night, a car to get from place to place and good health. What else do I need?
Has God really called me to something bigger than myself, and will He equip and provide me with what I need to make this happen? Having faith in God is believing that God will carry out His plan through me despite me. My confidence in my own ability causes me to detour away from the plan God has for our family. I must choose to die to my desires and plans and have faith that God's plan is not only best, but is what gives me purpose and focus in life!
Discussion Questions
1. What word would you use to define your relationship with God? (Casual, hesitant, open, growing, stagnant, confused, non-existent, self-righteous, deceived) Have you heard from Him lately? How often do you hear from Him?2. Who or what may God be calling you to?
3. What distractions in your life are causing you to detour away from the plan God has for you?
4. If you find yourself not needing God on a daily basis, what are some things you can begin to do so you do need Him daily?
DeWayne
January 19, 2012 06:24 AM
This is one of my favorite passages. JT, as you said faith is expecting God to do what God says he is going to do. The aspect of this passage that helps me understand God's character best is that with all the "help" God got from Abrahm and Sarai, He remained true to his plan. God took care of their mistakes and gave hope and a promise to Hagar and we know that Abrahm and Sarai will have the son that God promised. Having faith to follow God's plan is the right way to go, but knowing that God doesn't turn away when we "help" him grows my faith and trust.
Chip Smith
January 19, 2012 07:34 AM
Thank you J.T. for a thoughtful log this morning. There are so many powerful lessons to be learned from Abram's mistake here, but impatience in waiting on God is a big one. When we take matters into our own hand for a lack of patience in God, it always produces trouble for ourselves and others. When we try to fulfill God's plan outside of God's timing, the blast zone we create can have such far reaching damage.
Rick
January 19, 2012 07:47 AM
Well done. I love your question #3, Daniel Henderson mentioned Satan's Weapons of Mass Distraction on Sunday and it is really true how he uses this to draw us away from God' plans and from God Himself. May you be blessed today as you have blessed us!
Ron Hunt
January 19, 2012 08:02 AM
Rebuilding Wilderness Ridge after wildfires is all about Faith, yet it is easy to know what God is doing and wants? That's what I think. God has a plan and sometimes he gives us a preview and sometimes he doesn't. Or does he? His Word is the foundation upon which "all things are possible." Listen as we go forth by FAITH! Prayer, meditation on His word...FAITH
Hillary Skaff
January 19, 2012 08:17 AM
Thanks for your devotional, JT. God has had me "in the wait" for several months now, and your words remind me to continue to wait on God and not grow impatient. His plan is always goodness, so why do I doubt? Thank you for reminding me that God will work out His plan through me despite me. Today's scripture and your words refreshed my faith first thing this morning!
Terri
January 19, 2012 09:36 AM
Pride and self sufficiency are the walls I struggle with. Thanks for writing this devotional and highlighting that God's plan, not MY plan, is always the right plan. I'm learning to wait on God and also learning how sweet it truly is to rely on Him and not myself.
Jon Moton
January 19, 2012 09:39 AM
Well done, JT! Spoken from the heart!