When faced with laying down the treasure of his heart, Abraham obeyed.
He rose early, took his son Isaac whom he loved, and went up to the mountain to offer him as a sacrifice. When his son questioned him and there was no answer in sight, Abraham proclaimed, “God himself will provide.”
If he had to lay down the treasure of his heart, he would lay it down. In the thicket of the biggest war he would ever fight — the battle he waged to hold on to what was his — he was willing to lay it down.
When he raised the knife to sacrifice the one he loved, the Lord called: “Abraham! Abraham!” Twice. “Do not lay a hand on the boy!” You do not have to do this — I will provide another way — and now that I see you have my heart, I will bless you.
Sometimes we must be willing to give up the thing we want to hold on to in order to learn the greatest lesson of all – that God will make a way. That it’s not up to us. That anything we hold on to on this earth lacks weight compared to our hearts becoming like His.
With the audacious faith of Abraham, I am willing to lay down the thing I want to hold on to: my ministry. We have looked into me getting a different job — and I’m laying it all on the altar, believing The LORD will provide. If God, in the darkest, scariest moment of Abraham’s life, gave Abraham what he needed, why wouldn’t he do that for you and me?
Say it with me: Lord, you are our Provider. We stand audaciously, courageously, boldly believing, and we will not stop believing. We will take you at your Word. We will stand upon the mount of your promise.
I stand now, on this mountain of testing, upon this truth: I have sought first His kingdom, and all things will be provided for me as well. I stand on that promise.
Sometimes we think he will provide in dollars and cents — and he does — yet much of the time it is deeper than that — it is audacious faith he his after — the surrender, the obedience, the perseverence that produces the greatest riches within us.
I’ve been searching for the answer to what I cannot see. But just because I don’t see it, that doesn’t mean it’s not there. It is.
When I raise my knife to sacrifice the one thing I want, he calls to me, twice: Jen! Jen!
I stop. Trust. Wait.
The sun rises the next morning, and He says to me:
[pullquote]”May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God.”[/pullquote]
The tears run quietly down my face.
[pullquote]”Now, this I know: the Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and STAND FIRM. (Psalm 20:2-8)”[/pullquote]
He’s going to help you, friend. He’s giving you support. He’s granting victory. He’s protecting you. He will give you the desires of your heart and make your plans succeed. Stand firm. Stand on the mount of those promises.
In faith, Abraham:
- heard God’s voice
- said yes to to thing he didn’t want to do
- spoke with authority to his son: “The Lord will provide.”
- was willing to sacrifice what he loved
- heard the voice of the Lord, twice
- obeyed, once again
- was blessed beyond measure –along with his descendents
So If your son or daughter asks you today, “How will this be?” You assure them: “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.” (Genesis 22:14)
If God tells you to lay something down, lay it down.
He may do what he did for Abraham, and for me: tell us to pick it right back up again. it could be a test — to see if you have his heart.
Believing for More,
About the Author: Jennifer
