At last, we hear Abram’s doubt creep into his conversation with God. He has heard the promises and yet he can’t fathom how it will work unless his servants become heirs. But God showed him the stars and reminded Abram his descendants would be like that, too many to count. Abram believed God and the Lord “declared him righteous because of his faith.”
We need to remember that God’s blessings are beyond our comprehension. Abram certainly had to think outside the box to sure of what God was saying. During their intimate discussion, God also revealed and reiterated the promise of the land. A sacrifice was called to seal the deal. God finished his promise and the covenant was completed during a frightening dream. But God comforted Abram. Abram received the vision, together with the confirmation of the smoking pot and God’s passing through the pieces of sacrifice. This was real. God said so.
Have you had an encounter with God like this? If you have, then you can remember the shock and awe you felt when you realized you had heard from God the Almighty. It’s a moment that likely changed the course of your life. Others of us long for the day God will reveal himself to us. If we live our whole life without a personal visit from God like this, we should not be sad.
We have the opportunity to live our lives in close communion with God whether we hear his audible voice or not. We can see his movement around us, we can see the beauty of his creation, and experience it anew each day. We need to allow ourselves to be open. The change of seasons is a great opportunity to see God’s majesty at work.
God has given us an intimate position in his audience. As we watch for and wait for God to act, we commune with him, we cherish him, we learn from him. We long for confirmation that we are doing the right thing in his eyes. What does your heart tell you? If you feel a sense of dread or foreboding when you journey through life, chances are you are not in the middle of God’s will. His presence inside us acts as a correction when we start to veer off course. Listen to your inner voice. Know that God is always near and speaking to you. Listen closely.
So how are you getting intimate with God? It’s more than a monolog prayer. We need to be listening for what God has to say.
Let’s pray. Lord, I thank you for how you are moving in my life. I feel a connection to you that I haven’t felt in a very long time. I am relying on you to bring abundance in our lives. You have promised to guide me and never leave me alone. Help me be the best me I can be so that I can serve you with my whole self. Help me to close out the distractions so I can hear you more clearly. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
