Do Not Waver
Devotional Contributor: Dan Ranker
Scripture:
Romans 4:20 “Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God”
Observation:
In Romans 4:20, Paul is recounting the Faith of Abraham. Abraham followed and obeyed God’s commands and God carried thru his promises that he made. In Genesis 12 the Lord told Abraham:
“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.
I will bless those who bless you,and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Abraham kept the Faith through the years even when hope seemed lost, and when he was ninety-nine years old God was finally ready to fulfill the promises he made. Abraham was obedient and faithful and God came thru in his time.
Application:
Abraham was faithful through all the commands that God gave him, and God kept his promises. What about you? When times get tough, do you lose your Faith? When you lose a loved one do you get angry with God? What about when you lose a job and don’t know where to turn, do you lose confidence in God’s promises?
Last year during the beginning of the pandemic, a lot of people didn’t know what was going to happen. People were scared of the unknown, and many people ended up losing their jobs because of Covid, including myself. I had been at the same job for twenty-four years, and I didn’t know where to turn. I felt like I only knew how to do one type of job. Honestly, I lost focus on God. I was worried and tried to figure out what was next on my own. I failed to recognize how God was working on his plan for my life. He ended up placing me exactly where he wanted me to be. I couldn’t see it at the time but looking back now, it is hard to argue that God fulfilled his promises to me. In particular, the promise he makes in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I keep thinking back on that promise and comparing that to the promises God made to Abraham. God knew the plans he had for Abraham, he knows the plans he has for me, and he knows the plans he for you. Will you be faithful and obey, will you continue to trust God even when things seem hopeless?
The biggest lesson I learned over the last year can be summed up in these verses, Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Request:
Good and Gracious God, thank you for blessing me and my family. Thank you for placing me right where you knew I belonged including being a part of Iron Sharpens Iron. Lord forgive me for in those moments where my faith was insufficient. Lord strengthen my faith, my belief, and my courage. Lord bless those reading this with a strong faith and may they always remember to “Trust in the Lord”. In the difficult times and easy times may everyone remember to focus on you rather than the current situation. I give you all the glory for the blessings in my life. This I ask in Jesus’ name, Amen!