The 
Phases of Faith
Faith is the only way to grow in our relationship with God.
Monday, May 3, 2004
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My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for being a God who gives dreams and visions, and then fulfills them. Thank You for allowing us to participate in their fulfillment, giving meaning and purpose to our lives. I pray today that when I am sensing the frustration that can come when delays impact the timing of the fulfillment of Your dreams, that I will remember the great biblical personalities who trusted You when their dreams were delayed for decades, or when they were never fulfilled in their lifetimes. I pray that You will give me such trust in You that I will also rely on You regardless of the circumstances of my life. Fill me today with Your Holy Spirit that I may live boldly and confidently for You. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God's Word For Me Today
Genesis 12:1-3; 13:14-15
1Then the LORD told Abram, “Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. 2I will cause you to become the father of a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others. 3I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”
14After Lot was gone, the LORD said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction. 15I am going to give all this land to you and your offspring as a permanent possession. 16And I am going to give you so many descendants that, like dust, they cannot be counted! 17Take a walk in every direction and explore the new possessions I am giving you.”
Reflecting on God's Word
What is the greatest dream, promise or vision that God has ever given you?
What would it mean to you if God were to speak directly and audibly to you today about a dream He has for you?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word
What does God promise to give Abram in today’s first reading? (12:1-3)
What does God promise to give Abram in the second reading? (13:14-15)
What time frame does God attach to the fulfillment of the dreams? (12:1-3; 13:14-15)
Understanding God's Purpose
What do we find out about God’s purpose among people through His interaction with Abram?
What does the nature of God’s promises tell us about God’s purpose in our lives?
Applying God's Word to Our Lives
What do you find in today’s readings that you need to apply in your life right now?
Thoughts...The Magnitude of God's Dreams for Us...
When God approached Abram with the dreams of becoming the Father of a great nation and an expansive land where they would live, He said nothing about when the dreams would come true. In fact, from the Scriptures we read today, it seems that Abram didn’t need any assurances from God about the fulfillment of the dreams, other than that God had made the assurances! That’s such an important reminder for us. We say that we trust God to save us through Jesus’ death on the cross. We say that we have received the abundant life Jesus offers to all who trust in Him, and yet many times our lives aren’t lived abundantly. Many times the delays we experience do give us cause for despair, impatience and doubt. Why is that? One reason is that we fail to recognize the magnitude of God’s dreams for us. We let the everyday delays overshadow the dreams. We get “up to our neck in alligators,” and forget that God sent us to “drain the swamp.” The delays and difficulties we face along the way can sometimes become the “foreground” rather than the “backdrop” for God fulfilling His dreams for our lives. May we have the same faith as Abram, who although He was “new” to experiencing the dreams and visions of God, trusted Him to bring them to pass!