Assurance

Memorable Moments Hebrews 

Hebrews 11:1-3 ESV

Hebrews 11 (List of saints)

Genesis 16-18 (Sarai suffered)

Joshua 2 (Rahab stood by the Israelites)

Hebrews 11:39-40 ESV

If I’ve learned one thing it’s that striving for something doesn’t always get me where I need to go. Usually when I’m trying to get something done (even if I have a good plan) I end up spinning my wheels.

When I was a teenager and my dad saw I was spinning my wheels he would gently ask me to have a seat. Sometimes before the conversation started we would sit in silence for several minutes. That drove me crazy. But in those moments I eventually relaxed and started to breath. My dad would not speak until I was relaxed. When he did speak his voice was low and slow. His voice was calming.

Without knowing it I was getting my first lessons in the power of the silence of God.

My dad knew I was trying to get things done on my own. He could tell I was not waiting on God. He could see that my faith was in my plan and I was surging ahead without God at the helm.

Now, my dad was a Navy man. During World War II he was a young machinist aboard ship. As a civilian he was an engineer. He knew how mechanisms worked. He understood the power source.

He also knew even though I probably did a “hey God, it’s me again” prayer, when I walked away I took charge again.

He knew I was acting on my own and I was relying on my faith in myself and my ability to execute a plan. He knew my faith was not in God and God was not my power source.

Hebrews 11:1-3 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”

Many many decades later my dad has been with Jesus since 1987. This morning I was looking for a notebook where I had an agenda of “things to do” today. I knew the notebook was here somewhere but I didn’t know the exact location. I took a break from writing and I sat down. I laughed. I realized I was spinning my wheels.

I started to breathe. I told God, “sorry…I’m doing it yet again God.” Sometimes I think I can hear God laugh. Well, actually in my case I think I hear God laugh a lot at the very silly things I do.

One of the things on my list to do was to find the paperwork from my appointment with my ophthalmologist yesterday. I knew my next appointment was on the paperwork. I am in treatment for Macular Degeneration and I cannot miss my appointment for a treatment.

I asked God to help me find my notebook. Because of my history with God I knew (and believed) God would help me find my notebook. As I was looking for the notebook I came across a few folded pieces of paper. I opened them and I smiled and pointed up. “Okay, thanks God.”

The paperwork had my next appointment time.

I believe God is active and interested in even the smallest details of our lives. I believed (and have experienced) God’s constant care for me. Nothing is too small or too big for God.

Hebrews 11 is known for giving excellent examples of faith from the saints of old. By Faith…Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets tell their story of God’s faith. They believed in God and they responded to God by listening, waiting on God, and being obedient to God’s plan.

Their faith was not some idea they cooked up in the middle of the night. Take Sarah. She was suffering because she had not been able to bear a child. After ten years she gave her servant to Abram which made her suffer even more. By faith she still sought to be the woman and wife God called her to be (Genesis 16-18).

Take Rahab. Joshua sent in two spies when they came to Jericho. The two spies sent in went to the house of Rahab, a prostitute. When the king heard about the men he demanded that Rahab release them. She refused. She protected the foreign Israelites. Even though she wasn’t an Israelite, by faith she stood by them and their God (Joshua 2).

Every person listed in Hebrews 11 had a story of faith. They all believed, listened to God and responded in faith. They were all obedient to God’s plan.

In Hebrews 11:39-40 we are told, “And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.”

Time and time again in my life when God did not give me what I thought He had promised…what was expected, God really did provide something better for me.

At the time it may not have seemed like that was the case, but in time God’s plan became clear.

By faith.

As I grew in faith I came to realize the importance of faith.

I also realized it was not my faith. I did not create faith. God IS faithful in and helped me to mature in faith.

God provided faith to me.

As I turned to God and received what God had for me, God grew my faith.

I am an empty vessel. Fill me, Lord. Fill me with You.

Spiritual Practice: Ask

Ask God to fill You with faith.

In God, Deborah

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