Friday in the First Week of Lent

Promised Blessings

The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people, your father's household and go 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, and you will be a blessing." Genesis 12:1-2

What if you were asked to move from a familiar place? Consider what it would mean to pack up all your belongings and leave the home that you grew up in to go to a land that you know nothing about. Can you imagine the concern, excitement, fear, and worry that would go on in your head? God asked Abram to leave the land he knew and promised him a blessing. Abram decided to say yes and look what happened: God blessed Abram, who later was called Abraham the ancestor of the Hebrew people.

But what would have happened to God's people if Abram had decided to say no and stayed in his comfort zone? History would not have been the same. How many times have you been nervous and scared about hearing God's call in your life? Doubts run deep and the 'what if's' fill our minds when we are faced with a new opportunity. Remember that God blessed Abraham and blessings will happen to you also when you are called to move away from familiar surroundings.

Ashley Fitzpatrick

Prayer: God, thank you for examples like Abraham that we can look to for strength. Give us courage in everything we do and lead and guide us to the places you want us to go. Amen.