It’s a beautiful autumn, windows-open kind of day. You’re minding a few things around the house, and the football game is buzzing in the background with the noises of the crowd and commentators.
Your doorbell rings, and shortly afterwards you hear pounding on your door. You curiously open the door and see God standing on your doorstep. “You need to leave the country. Now! Get outta here!”
This was God’s exact approach to Abraham. “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great … I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse” (Genesis 12:1-3).
Can you imagine your first thoughts in that situation? Among them: “God, what in the world are you talking about? Why? Do you seriously expect me just to pack up and leave behind my family, friends, house, job and US citizenship?”
Maybe Abraham had this same thoughts, but if so, he put them behind him and packed his bags.
Instead of letting things getting in the way of God, Abraham let God get in the way of things.
How could he do that? Because when God wants you to leave something behind, he has two good reasons. 1) The thing you leave behind might be a good thing, but it’s not as good as you think it is. 2) God has a better thing that he promises to give you if you trust and follow him.
What things in your life are getting in the way of God? What is God telling you to leave behind, because he knows there is something better? Why haven’t you followed his way yet?
Six times in God’s command to Abraham he says, “I will.” God not only knows a better way, but he promised that he would make it happen for Abraham.
God knows and promises a way for you, too. But not while you are holding onto things you need to leave behind. Instead of letting things get in the way of God, let God get in the way of things.
PRAYER: Dear God, I let too many things get in the way, preventing me from following you. Open my eyes to see these things. Open my heart to loosen its grip on them and leave them behind. So that you get in the way of things. Amen.
FURTHER MEDITATION: Slow down, meditate on God’s command and promises, and ask God to help you identify your things that are getting in the way. Use the PRAY acronym.
- Praise (tell God what you appreciate about his ways more than your ways)
- Repent (tell God about your ways that get in his way, trust in his promises of forgiveness because Jesus is the Way)
- Ask (it’s okay to need God to lead you on the way)
- Yield (reach out your hand and trust him to take you)
