It’s
truly amazing to me how God puts certain understandings in my path. I think I see clearly what He’s doing, what
He’s done, and then click a new piece falls in and “Wow!”
Sometimes,
there just is no other word for it.
In
a sermon today, Dr. Lee A. Simpson related the story of Abram. This was a man who God had given a promise
to. God’s promise was that Abram would
be the father of many nations, but as Abram got older, he looked around, and
this thing that God had promised just was not happening. And Abram began to question God and question
the promise. It began to look to Abram like
God just didn’t know or understand how things worked down here on Earth.
So
Abram went into his tent, and he started praying and explaining to God that
youth had passed him by. He was no
longer a young man. In fact, he was old,
and so was his wife, and this whole father of nations business was just not
happening the way Abram had thought it would when God promised him this.
Have
you been there? I know I have. “God, I thought You were going to use my
writing to touch other people’s lives.
What’s up with that? I feel like
I sit here and I do all of this stuff, and what’s it even doing? Is it helping anybody? Because frankly I don’t see it. I don’t see Your plan. I don’t see You in this like I thought I
would.”
Then
(I love this), God said two words to Abram.
“Step outside.”
You
see, Abram was in his tent--his own little world. In that tent he was safe. He probably had his bowl right by his favorite
mat—you know like that glass you have right by your favorite chair. He probably had all of his little
knick-knacks just so and his schedule down pat.
And then God came and said, “Step outside.”
Step
outside YOUR comfort zone. Step outside
YOUR plans. Step outside what YOU think
is possible, and when you do, you will step into MY world.
As
Abram came out of the tent of his own limited experiences, his own limited
vision, his own limited perspective, he saw the stars above him, and God said,
“Count them.”
Understand
now, Abram had been used to praying in his tent. He didn’t think about what was outside. So the stars were amazing to behold. “Lord, if I cannot count this multitude of
stars.”
The
lesson then went on that God wanted Abram not to just count the stars that he
could see but also the ones he couldn't
see. Because the truth is, there multitudes
and multitudes of stars that we can't even see to count as well. As Dr. Simpson says, “God is asking you to count
the stars you can see, and the ones you can only imagine…”
Ah,
that’s beautiful. Count the stars you
can see and those you can only imagine.
So
my question to you is, are you inside that tent? Are you comfortable where you are in the
knowledge that you have, or are you ready to come when God calls you to step
outside?
When
you do, I challenge you to count the stars—your blessings, those things God has
put into your life to bring His light and His love to a darkened world through
you. And then, breathe, and begin to
also count the stars that you cannot see, those that only He can right now.
As
you may know, Abram went on to become Abraham, truly the father of many
nations, but it took stepping out of his tent, out of his comfort zone for him
to begin to see the world God wanted to give him.
So,
step outside… You will be amazed at what God has in store for you!
Copyright Staci Stallings, 2008
Staci Stallings is a Contemporary Christian
author and the founder of Grace & Faith Author Connection. The full line of Staci's books, which include Contemporary Romance,
Bible Studies, and short story collections can be found at: http://stacistallings.wordpress.com
Her blog is at: http://spiritlightbooks.wordpress.com
Here's more about one
of her books...
“I absolutely loved this book. I am a sucker for Cowboys in
Wrangler jeans and boots!” COWBOY by: Staci Stallings
Now just 99 Cents on Kindle & Nook
Cowboy (The Harmony Series)
Or READ THE FIRST CHAPTER HERE...
http://spiritlightworks.wordpress.com/2012/01/13/cowboy-chapter-1/
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