Chapter 7: Ep 1: Girl, God Got You: Abraham's Faith and God's Provisions

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Hello, and welcome back to the Diary of a Black Woman, the podcast where we

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dive into faith, life, and incredible ways God moves in our lives.

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I'm your host, Connie Morris, and I'm so glad that you are here with me today.

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And so we're tackling a new episode, Chapter 7, Girl, God Got You,

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stories of unseen miracles and provisions.

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We're going to journey through some powerful biblical narratives that reveal

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how God's hand is always at work, even when you can't see it.

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So in today's episode, we will discuss Abraham's ultimate test of faith is how

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God provided a ram in the bush,

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just when it seems that all hope was lost.

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The story reminds us that no

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matter what we face, God is faithful and his provision is always on time.

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So settle in, grab your Bible.

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If you don't have it nearby, go get it, get it ready.

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We're going to be starting in Genesis 22 and we're going to explore how God's

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unseen miracles and provisions are at work in our lives today. day.

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So let's get started. So we're going to start out by just defining what are

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miracles and provision, because God does both.

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So let's start out by defining what we mean by miracles and provisions.

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So a miracle is often described as an extraordinary event that defies natural

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explanation, typically attributed to divine intervention.

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It's when God steps into our reality in a way that leaves us in awe.

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Tangibly showing his power and presence.

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How many of us have had that happen to us where God just shows up in our reality

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and we're left with our mouth hanging open in awe that only God could have done that.

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And when we define provisions, on the other hand, refers to God's supplying of our needs.

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It's not always about extraordinary, but sometimes it's about the steady,

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faithful ways God provides for us every day, often in ways we don't immediately realize.

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And so in the story of Abraham, we will see both of these concepts at play.

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The provision of the ram and the thicket is both a miracle and an example of

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God's faithful provision.

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It shows us that God is not only aware of our needs, but is also actively working

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to meet them, often in ways that are beyond our understanding.

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You ever just wonder how things just line up the way they do?

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And if you look back, there's no way that it could have happened unless God intervened.

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Sometimes we just have to just say, thank you, Lord, right?

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So we're going to see how God works in Abraham's life.

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In this series of chapter 7, we're going to also see how he worked in Joseph's

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life and then how he worked in King David's life.

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And then I titled this, Girl, God's Got You, because if he did it for them, he can do it for us.

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So we just have to remember that God's Bible is set in place so that we can

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see how God works in others' lives so that we can trust that he can provide

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and work miracles in our lives.

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Can I get amen for that, right? And so let's start out with...

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Trying to see where I'm at. Okay. It says, so I want to just set the stage here.

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So if you, by now you should have found Genesis 22, but I'd like to get us into,

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you know, I like to get us into how Abraham would have felt in this situation.

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So we're going to set the stage for this story in Genesis 22.

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So I want you to imagine Abraham just for a moment, even imagine yourself just

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for a moment, that you waited years for God to answer a particular prayer.

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And maybe he has answered a particular moment.

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He had fulfilled a promise in your life. And so here we see,

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we see here that Abraham waited for fulfillment of God's promise to give him a son.

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And finally, Isaac is born through him and Abraham, through Abraham and Sarah.

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And God has promised to make him a father of a great nation.

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But then an imaginable, unimaginable twist happens.

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God then asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, his only son.

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It is a request that seems to contradict everything God has promised,

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a command that could shake anyone's faith to the core.

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So imagine God has promised Abraham, I'm going to give you a son.

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And through this son, nations are going to be born.

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But then he asks you that I want you to sacrifice this son.

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And so let's, we're going to just continue with this introduction.

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So as Abraham journey, we're going to talk about Abraham journey to make this sacrifice.

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And so as women, we're emotional beings.

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Could you imagine God asking you to sacrifice something that he has given you?

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Can you imagine the emotions that Abraham felt, the confusion,

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even the fear, or even the sense of betrayal that this might have felt in his body?

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But despite these emotions, Abraham proceeded in obedience, holding onto his

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faith in God's goodness and provision.

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This moment is a profound test of faith and obedience, and it set the stage

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for one of the most significant examples of divine intervention in the Bible.

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We see here, we know the story.

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I don't want to get ahead of myself here, but we see that Abraham was a real

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person. He had real emotions. He had a real son.

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He had to go make a real sacrifice. So I want you to think for a moment before

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we get into the scripture, that this was a real person, that God asked him to do a real thing.

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And when I was thinking about this, there's a lot of times when you ever get

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involved in maybe an event.

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I remember as I was preparing for this, that I was involved in,

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I was just involved in, it was just a prayer group.

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And I really enjoyed this prayer group.

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And it was a prayer group and it was another group that I was involved in.

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I just moved to Nebraska and I was involved in two different events.

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And then I joined my guy. When I arrived here, the Lord sent me to another,

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you know, I had gotten involved in my church here.

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And the Lord said, well, I want you to let go of those two prayer events,

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which I was involved in for about two years before I arrived here to Nebraska.

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And I want you to let those things go. Now, remember you have created relationships,

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friendships and that it seems out of the blue god said i need you to like let

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those things go and focus only on this one thing focus on the church that i'm sending you to.

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And I thought that was like the end of the world. I was like,

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how am I supposed to do this? I mean, I can handle both, Lord.

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I can do all these things.

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And I went to bed. I'm like, Lord, what? And it took me a little delay. I wasn't like Abraham.

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Like I woke up the next day and I did it right away. No, I was still trying

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to figure out, Lord, I can do all of it.

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But he was very persistent. No, I want you to let those go. and I want you to

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put all your energy into this one thing.

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And so we know the emotions that go with that.

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We don't, God doesn't have to give us a reason.

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He just wants us to obey. Can we obey when we don't understand?

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Can we obey when he doesn't tell us the reason why?

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You know, so it took me about three or four days, but the pressure of it was

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more like, I need you to do it soon.

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And so the next meeting came and I, I gave the email notice to,

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to both of my groups and they understood easy.

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You're like, whoa, they understood, but I didn't understand, but I did it.

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And I kind of remember like, that was the hardest thing I had to do. And I just relaxed.

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But then at that moment I had a sense of peace.

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And then I began to take the money I was giving to these organizations and then

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focus that money towards that one organization, which was my church,

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and then put all my energy into that organization.

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So there is a purpose to what God is doing.

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I haven't got the answer yet, so I won't say, and this is what happened.

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It was some great things and the ram in the bush came. No, I was just obedient

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for that time. And I want to just be honest with you.

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So let's go to Genesis 22 verses one through two.

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And let's see how Abraham responded to God's request. It probably wasn't my delay.

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Probably wasn't your delay. But we can learn a lot about this because if it

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says, girl, God's got you, then that obedience means something to God.

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You know, and then that obedience can arrive, can also equals.

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I put girl, God's got you, can equal these unseen miracles and provisions.

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And if I really think back, I believe that God has provided for me and some

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unseen miracles and provision.

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But we get so caught about the extraordinary and the spectacular that we miss

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the little things that God is doing in our lives.

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But let's just go forth with Genesis 22 verses 1 through 2.

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And let's just say, Lord, thank you for the little things that you're doing

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in our lives. Thank you even for the big things that you will do in our lives.

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And Lord God, I thank you that we will be quick to obey what you have us to

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do because you see the big picture and we are just seeing the small picture.

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Let's not be too caught up into what we think we need, Lord God,

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what we think is best for us and that we will follow what you will have for us.

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And we just give you praise for that in Jesus name.

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Amen. All right, let's go to Genesis 22, 1 through 2. God command to Abraham.

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It says, sometime later, God tested Abraham. He said to him,

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Abram, here I am, he replied.

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Then God said, take your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac,

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and go to the region of Moriah.

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Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.

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This is a new English version. new international version.

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And so we see here that God didn't miss words. There wasn't nothing about where,

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what, what it says, I take your son, your only son whom you love.

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Come on now, God wasn't missing words here and go to the region of Moriah.

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So you had a destination that you were headed, sacrifice him.

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As a burnt offering on a mountain, I will show you. So we know it's going to end in a sacrifice.

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We know it was going to end on a mountain and we know it's going to end with

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his son and not just his son, the son that he loves.

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So this passage introduces us to an unimaginable test of faith that Abraham is about to face.

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God's command to sacrifice Isaac, the son of promise, is a test that goes beyond the ordinary.

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It's a test of Abraham's ultimate trust in God's character and his promises.

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This moment challenges us to consider our own faith.

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How do we respond when God's commands seem to contradict our expectation or desires.

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Abraham's immediate response was, here I am, is a powerful declaration of his

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readiness to obey, even when the task is daunting.

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I just actually believe that the more we trust God, I remember sharing a story

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on a other episode that when God gave me a warning dream, I immediately obeyed, right?

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But then you see in chapter seven of, and when I began my devotionals,

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there was a lot of delay in my obedience.

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And so I noticed that as I began to trust God more, that my obedience becomes more immediate.

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Saying that's good. My obedience become more immediate as I trust in God.

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When you don't trust him, we'll start to trust in our own understanding, right?

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But we see here with Abraham that Abraham really trusted God.

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For one, he heard his voice, here I am. And then we'll see in the next chapter

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that he did it and he got up immediately and began his journey.

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So let's go to Genesis 22 verses 3 through 5, Abraham's obedience.

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So early the next morning, Abraham got up and loaded his donkey.

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He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac.

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And when he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God told him.

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And on the third day, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.

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And he said to his servants, stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there.

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We will worship and then we will come back to you.

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So we see here that early in the morning, so he woke up early in the morning

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and he began to prep for what he knew would be a sacrifice.

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And then he began his journey. So God asked Abraham to do something.

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He slept on it. He got up and he began the journey to do what God asked him to do.

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So how many of us are ready to just begin to trust God with.

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With the miracles and provision, because it happens with that trust.

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It's chapter seven, it says, girl, God got you.

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So that means that if we can trust that God got us, then we can trust in the

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next thing, the miraculous and those supernatural provisions.

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So we see here that Abraham's obedience is immediate and unwavering.

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He rises early and prepares for the journey, showing his commitment to follow

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God's command, even without understanding the outcome.

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The statement he said, we will worship and we will come back to you.

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That's a faith statement.

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We will worship and we will come

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back to you reveals Abraham's faith that somehow God will provide a way.

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This passage teaches us about the nature of true obedience.

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It's not delayed or conditional, but immediate and rooted in trust.

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Even when faced with the unknown, Abraham moves forward in faith,

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setting an example for us to trust in God's provision.

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Even when we can't see how things will unfold.

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We see here that he rises early and that he began to speak faith.

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So when God tells you to let something go, your words shouldn't be,

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why Lord, I can do this like I did, but Lord, you got something better for me.

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So I can release that as quicker because I'm not, I'm not trying to control

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it thinking that I have, have, I have more, my best interest is better than

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you, what you have for me, Lord,

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but I got to trust that your interest in me is better.

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And so my words that came with the words that came out of Abraham mouth was powerful.

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He says, can you wait here?

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Me and my son, we're going to go sacrifice and we will return.

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So that's already setting some things in motion for God to work.

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Let's go to Genesis 22 verses seven through eight.

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And let's see what was Isaac's response.

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Isaac's question and Abraham's response. So Isaac spoke up and said to his father, Abraham, father.

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Yes, my son, Abraham replied. The fire and the wood are here,

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Isaac said. but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?

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Abraham answered, God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.

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And the two of them went on together. So first you see me and my son going to

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make a sacrifice and come back.

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But then the son looked around and said, wait a minute. There is no lamb.

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And so the son asked the question. He says, where's the lamb?

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And then Abraham made another faithful statement. God will provide the lamb.

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Come on. God will provide the lamb.

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So when we are, when we were looking for God's provisions, we see the most important

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things that we can say out of our mouth are those faith statements.

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Not how you feel in or what you think or how do you think things should go?

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But what is your mouth saying that you are expecting God to do? He says.

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God himself will provide a lamb for the burnt offering.

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Glory to God. When God says, turn some things off, cut some things off,

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then he's on to something new.

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I think we are the only ones that want to hold on to stuff forever,

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thinking that we hold on to this long enough that this will produce a crop.

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Unless God told you that that's going to be the crop producing idea,

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if he didn't say that, you better let that thing go because God's always got something new.

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Remember, he's always say, I am doing a new thing. So we have to trust in him

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and we have to let our mouth begin to speak those faith-filled words,

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not allowing our emotions to speak, allowing our mouth to speak faith-filled words.

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Let's go on to Genesis 22, 9 verses 9 to 12, the test of faith.

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When they reached the place God told him about, Abraham built an altar there

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and arranged the wood on it.

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He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar.

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He laid him on the altar on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and

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took his knife to slay his son.

00:20:37.116 --> 00:20:43.196
But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, Abraham,

00:20:43.616 --> 00:20:46.276
Abraham, here I am, he replied.

00:20:46.556 --> 00:20:50.256
Do not lay a hand on the boy, he said.

00:20:50.696 --> 00:20:58.776
Do not do anything to him. Now I know you fear God because you have not withheld

00:20:58.776 --> 00:21:02.876
from me, your son, your only son.

00:21:03.076 --> 00:21:05.196
So look how, look at that.

00:21:05.476 --> 00:21:09.296
So, so much for the lamb, right? But look what happens.

00:21:10.076 --> 00:21:14.456
Isaac didn't resist. Isaac laid there on top of the wood.

00:21:15.345 --> 00:21:22.685
And then the Lord called out from heaven and it looked as exclamation point. So he didn't whisper.

00:21:23.125 --> 00:21:27.605
It don't sound like it was a small, small, still voice that he had to go.

00:21:27.765 --> 00:21:29.965
What was that? What was that? No, no, no.

00:21:30.425 --> 00:21:32.805
It looked like God did a little Abraham,

00:21:33.265 --> 00:21:38.045
Abraham, like getting Abraham's attention. And then it stopped him.

00:21:38.665 --> 00:21:46.265
Here I am. And then the Lord continued to speak. Do not lay a hand on the boy.

00:21:46.385 --> 00:21:52.025
He said, do not do anything to him. He double spoke it twice.

00:21:52.245 --> 00:21:54.705
Don't touch him. Don't touch him. Right.

00:21:55.365 --> 00:22:04.105
Now I know that you fear God because you have not withheld from me, your son, your only son.

00:22:04.545 --> 00:22:10.825
What is God waiting for us to let go of so that he can reveal him,

00:22:11.085 --> 00:22:12.965
his whole true self to us? Right.

00:22:13.365 --> 00:22:17.165
He says, now I know. I like that.

00:22:17.745 --> 00:22:24.565
Now I know. I said, now I know. What is God waiting to say that? Now I know.

00:22:24.825 --> 00:22:28.885
So at the climax of the story, Abraham's faith is fully tested.

00:22:29.305 --> 00:22:36.825
With the knife in hand, he is ready to obey God's command. But at the last moment, God intervenes.

00:22:37.105 --> 00:22:42.605
The angel's declaration, now I know that you fear God.

00:22:43.365 --> 00:22:51.325
Affirms Abraham's deep reverence and trust in God. This moment is not just about obedience.

00:22:52.165 --> 00:22:55.205
It's about the death of Abraham's faith.

00:23:00.265 --> 00:23:06.805
It challenges us to consider what we are willing to sacrifice in our walk with God.

00:23:06.985 --> 00:23:09.465
Are we holding anything back?

00:23:09.765 --> 00:23:17.725
And are we willing to lay anything on the altar, trusting that God's plan is perfect.

00:23:18.205 --> 00:23:29.985
I like that. Are we holding anything back or are we willing to lay anything at the altar,

00:23:30.365 --> 00:23:34.345
trusting that God's plan is perfect?

00:23:34.685 --> 00:23:37.585
Do we want his perfect will in our lives?

00:23:38.607 --> 00:23:44.027
And what are we holding back from him? What is keeping us from God's perfect will?

00:23:44.407 --> 00:23:50.027
Let's go to Genesis 22, 13 through 14, verses 13 to 14.

00:23:50.407 --> 00:23:56.067
God's provision of the ram. So Abraham looked up and there in a thicket,

00:23:56.247 --> 00:23:59.667
he saw a ram caught by his horn.

00:23:59.967 --> 00:24:05.667
He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead

00:24:05.667 --> 00:24:11.967
of his son. So Abraham called that place, the Lord will provide.

00:24:13.107 --> 00:24:19.647
And to this day, it is said on the mountain of the Lord, it will be provided.

00:24:20.187 --> 00:24:25.827
That the Lord is what? Our Jehovah Jireh, that he is our provider.

00:24:26.127 --> 00:24:31.647
God's provision of the ram is the miraculous answer to Abraham's faith.

00:24:32.607 --> 00:24:38.887
Wow. God's provision of the ram is a miraculous answer to Abraham's faith.

00:24:39.087 --> 00:24:44.747
Just as Abraham had declared God himself will provide the lamb,

00:24:45.047 --> 00:24:49.387
God provides the substitute at the perfect moment.

00:24:49.747 --> 00:24:55.327
This provision not only spares Isaac, but also confirms God's faithfulness.

00:24:55.627 --> 00:25:00.567
Abraham names the place the Lord will provide.

00:25:00.907 --> 00:25:08.107
A testimony that God is always on time, providing what we need when we need it most.

00:25:08.407 --> 00:25:16.087
This passage is a powerful reminder that God sees our needs and provides for

00:25:16.087 --> 00:25:19.767
them, often in ways that we least expect.

00:25:20.347 --> 00:25:27.847
It encourages us to trust in God's timing and provision, knowing he is always faithful.

00:25:28.327 --> 00:25:32.967
So check that out. You trust God and just,

00:25:33.807 --> 00:25:37.527
you have said he will provide a lamb and lo and behold,

00:25:37.747 --> 00:25:43.327
something is making noise in the thicket and you glance over there and you know

00:25:43.327 --> 00:25:50.387
Abraham, he grabbed that ram and probably sacrificed that ram so quick.

00:25:51.453 --> 00:25:57.613
And it was like, it happened like obedience and God's faithfulness.

00:25:58.053 --> 00:26:03.533
Abraham's obedience, Abraham's faith, God's faithfulness to Abraham.

00:26:03.873 --> 00:26:08.113
Let's go to Genesis 22, verse 15 to 18.

00:26:08.513 --> 00:26:11.593
God's reaffirmation of his covenant.

00:26:12.673 --> 00:26:18.973
The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said,

00:26:18.973 --> 00:26:22.173
I swear by myself, declares the Lord,

00:26:22.613 --> 00:26:28.453
that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,

00:26:28.673 --> 00:26:34.613
I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in

00:26:34.613 --> 00:26:38.073
the sky and as the sand on the seashore.

00:26:38.073 --> 00:26:45.813
Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies and through your offsprings.

00:26:45.993 --> 00:26:53.073
All nation on the earth will be blessed because you have obeyed me. God was still talking.

00:26:53.793 --> 00:27:00.313
Abraham sacrificing the ram and God is still talking like, you know,

00:27:00.413 --> 00:27:06.573
Abraham, I'm going to bless you because you have done this thing.

00:27:06.573 --> 00:27:13.233
You were about to sacrifice your only son, but yet I'm going to do more for

00:27:13.233 --> 00:27:16.513
you than you thought you were going to get. I'm going to bless your seed.

00:27:16.833 --> 00:27:20.173
And I'm going to bless your son. I'm going to bless your descendants.

00:27:20.193 --> 00:27:23.073
And I'm going to bless it so much. It says, I'm going to bless it.

00:27:23.573 --> 00:27:29.153
Your descendants as numerous as the stars of the sky and the sand of the seashore.

00:27:29.793 --> 00:27:36.313
In response to Abraham's obedience, God reaffirmed and expands his covenant with Abraham.

00:27:36.573 --> 00:27:42.633
The promise of countless descendants and blessings to all nations through Abraham's

00:27:42.633 --> 00:27:48.173
offspring is a direct result of Abraham's willingness to trust and obey.

00:27:48.473 --> 00:27:53.373
This passage highlights the connection between obedience and blessings.

00:27:55.000 --> 00:28:00.740
God promises our sure and our willingness to follow him, even in the hardest

00:28:00.740 --> 00:28:07.100
circumstances, opens the door for his blessings to flow into our lives.

00:28:07.460 --> 00:28:09.620
This scripture encourages us to

00:28:09.620 --> 00:28:16.840
reflect on the blessings that come from obedience and trust in God's plan.

00:28:17.060 --> 00:28:20.900
So let's just kind of sum this up because that's powerful.

00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:27.500
I just believe like, well, Abraham was sacrificing the ram.

00:28:27.880 --> 00:28:34.160
God was just so like, you know, God was like, wow, you were about to do this.

00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:36.540
And this is what I'm going to do for you.

00:28:36.860 --> 00:28:43.640
I am going to bless you more because you obeyed me.

00:28:44.220 --> 00:28:47.320
So faith at first point is faith in the unseen.

00:28:48.820 --> 00:28:55.320
Abraham's journey in Genesis 22 is a powerful example of what it means to have faith in the unseen.

00:28:55.600 --> 00:29:02.920
Despite the heart wrench command to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham moves forward,

00:29:03.120 --> 00:29:06.320
believing that God has a plan.

00:29:06.680 --> 00:29:13.620
This kind of faith is what God calls us to have, a faith that trusts in his promises.

00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:17.780
Even we can't see the way forward.

00:29:18.060 --> 00:29:25.280
Abraham's willingness to obey, despite his emotions, opened the door for a miracle.

00:29:25.600 --> 00:29:31.580
The provisions of the ram in the thicket wasn't just a random occurrence.

00:29:31.640 --> 00:29:39.480
It was a divine intervention that saved Isaac's life and reaffirmed God's faithfulness.

00:29:40.372 --> 00:29:45.732
This story challenges us to consider our own faith. How do we respond when God

00:29:45.732 --> 00:29:50.892
asks us to trust him without showing us the full picture?

00:29:51.272 --> 00:29:56.872
Are we willing to step out in faith, believing that God will provide even when

00:29:56.872 --> 00:29:58.772
the path ahead is unclear?

00:29:59.672 --> 00:30:04.732
Abraham's example shows us that faith isn't about seeing the end.

00:30:04.732 --> 00:30:10.632
It's about trusting God to guide us through the journey, knowing that his provision

00:30:10.632 --> 00:30:14.152
is always timely and sufficient.

00:30:14.652 --> 00:30:19.752
Oh, this is good. Number two, walking through Abraham's emotions,

00:30:19.972 --> 00:30:22.312
even walking through our emotions. Right.

00:30:22.572 --> 00:30:26.372
Let's take a moment and walk through Abraham's what Abraham might have been

00:30:26.372 --> 00:30:30.232
feeling as he prepared to sacrifice Isaac.

00:30:30.952 --> 00:30:35.832
Imagine the turmoil in his heart, the conflict between his love for his son

00:30:35.832 --> 00:30:37.792
and his commitment to obey God.

00:30:38.112 --> 00:30:41.892
It's easy to read this story and focus on the outcome.

00:30:42.072 --> 00:30:46.872
But what about the journey, the silent steps of the mountain,

00:30:47.312 --> 00:30:50.292
the moments of doubt that must have crept in?

00:30:50.632 --> 00:30:59.052
Yet Isaac chose to trust God, even when everything in him must have screamed to hold back.

00:31:00.012 --> 00:31:05.632
Reflecting on Abraham emotions can help us understand our own struggles with faith.

00:31:05.932 --> 00:31:09.692
It's okay to feel fear, doubt, or confusion.

00:31:09.892 --> 00:31:16.612
But like Abraham, we're called to move forward in faith, trusting that God's

00:31:16.612 --> 00:31:18.552
plans are greater than our fears.

00:31:18.972 --> 00:31:27.892
This is where we often seek God's provision, when we take the step of faith despite our emotions.

00:31:28.512 --> 00:31:33.612
So when we do it afraid, when we do it afraid, when we do it when we doubt,

00:31:33.872 --> 00:31:36.132
when we just keep moving forward.

00:31:36.352 --> 00:31:43.152
We know Abraham loves his son, but yet he still got up early that morning and

00:31:43.152 --> 00:31:49.692
prepared to sacrifice his son, trusting that God will do what he said he was going to do.

00:31:50.851 --> 00:31:57.511
He spoke those words of faith, that we will return, that God will provide a

00:31:57.511 --> 00:32:00.991
lamb for us for a sacrifice.

00:32:01.331 --> 00:32:06.991
And just as he has said it, no sooner than he was about to sacrifice his son,

00:32:07.171 --> 00:32:13.031
then the voice of the Lord spoke through the angel and said, Abraham,

00:32:13.751 --> 00:32:16.571
Abraham, do not touch their son.

00:32:16.931 --> 00:32:22.291
And then things start to move forward. And God was still talking and blessed him.

00:32:22.591 --> 00:32:26.351
So let's talk about some personal reflections before we close up.

00:32:27.071 --> 00:32:31.331
Now let's bring this closer to home. Have you ever been in a situation where

00:32:31.331 --> 00:32:37.371
your faith was tested, where you were asked to trust God in a way that seemed impossible?

00:32:38.091 --> 00:32:44.191
Maybe it was a financial struggle, a health crisis, or a relationship that seems beyond repair?

00:32:44.391 --> 00:32:46.251
How did you respond?

00:32:46.691 --> 00:32:50.211
Did you see God's provision in unexpected ways?

00:32:50.631 --> 00:32:53.831
Take a moment to think about those times.

00:32:54.211 --> 00:33:00.271
Those experiences are powerful reminders that just as God provided for Abraham,

00:33:00.711 --> 00:33:04.071
he is faithful to provide for.

00:33:05.251 --> 00:33:08.191
So what can we take away from Abraham's story?

00:33:08.531 --> 00:33:13.891
One key lesson is the importance of trusting in God's timing and provision.

00:33:14.171 --> 00:33:21.831
Even when we don't understand the situation, it's easy to trust God when things are going well.

00:33:21.831 --> 00:33:28.431
But the true test of faith comes when we're asked to trust him in the midst

00:33:28.431 --> 00:33:35.591
of uncertainty or when he asks us to do the hard thing or what we consider to be the hard thing.

00:33:36.051 --> 00:33:40.391
So I encourage you to take a priority this week to reflect on where you might

00:33:40.391 --> 00:33:42.071
need to trust God more fully.

00:33:42.371 --> 00:33:45.971
Are you holding back because you're afraid that God won't come through?

00:33:46.391 --> 00:33:50.271
Or maybe you're in a season of waiting, unsure how things would turn out.

00:33:51.011 --> 00:33:58.931
Offer these concerns to God, trusting that just as he provided for Abraham, he will provide for you.

00:33:59.351 --> 00:34:04.991
Let's take this moment to center ourselves in prayer, asking God to help us

00:34:04.991 --> 00:34:12.191
live as living sacrifices, fully trusting in his good, pleasing,

00:34:12.231 --> 00:34:13.991
and perfect will for our lives.

00:34:14.771 --> 00:34:21.111
Romans 12, 1 through 2 reminds us that our true and proper worship is to offer

00:34:21.111 --> 00:34:23.011
ourselves completely to God,

00:34:23.291 --> 00:34:30.191
trusting that he will guide and provide for us in every season.

00:34:30.851 --> 00:34:33.411
Remember, God got you.

00:34:34.557 --> 00:34:39.277
Heavenly Father, we come before you today with hearts full of gratitude for

00:34:39.277 --> 00:34:43.777
the example of faith that Abraham has set for us.

00:34:44.097 --> 00:34:48.337
Help us to trust you completely, even when the path ahead is unclear.

00:34:48.877 --> 00:34:55.017
We offer our lives to you as living sacrifices, believing that your plans for

00:34:55.017 --> 00:34:57.417
us are good, pleasing, and perfect.

00:34:58.277 --> 00:35:03.497
Strengthen our faith, Lord, and help us to see your hand at work in our lives.

00:35:03.497 --> 00:35:08.437
Just as you provided for Abraham, we trust you with our lives,

00:35:08.737 --> 00:35:09.937
our plans, and our future.

00:35:10.377 --> 00:35:13.037
In Jesus' name, amen.

00:35:13.677 --> 00:35:17.917
So as we close this segment, I hope you're encouraged by Abraham's story to

00:35:17.917 --> 00:35:22.317
trust in God's provision, even when the road ahead is filled with uncertainty.

00:35:22.877 --> 00:35:27.757
Remember, just as God provided the ram and the thicket, he will provide for

00:35:27.757 --> 00:35:30.737
you the ways that are beyond your imagination.

00:35:31.677 --> 00:35:36.417
Our faith may be tested, but God's faithfulness never wavers.

00:35:36.757 --> 00:35:40.617
So thank you for joining me in this deep dive into Genesis 22.

00:35:41.057 --> 00:35:46.277
Stay tuned as we continue to explore more stories of unseen miracles and God's

00:35:46.277 --> 00:35:48.677
miraculous provision in our next segments.

00:35:49.097 --> 00:35:55.837
And always remember, no matter what you're facing, girl, God got you.

00:35:56.637 --> 00:36:02.237
Until next time, keep walking in faith, trusting that God's timing and provision are perfect.

00:36:02.657 --> 00:36:08.977
This is Connie Morris. Until next time, be blessed. And I'll see you in our next segment.

00:36:09.517 --> 00:36:12.337
It will be regarding Joseph's journey

00:36:12.337 --> 00:36:17.857
through trials and how God used his experiences for a greater purpose.

00:36:17.877 --> 00:36:24.597
If you enjoyed today's episode, be sure to subscribe so you don't miss any future episodes.

00:36:25.297 --> 00:36:28.017
And if you know someone who could use a little encouragement,

00:36:28.337 --> 00:36:30.537
please share this podcast with them.

00:36:30.657 --> 00:36:35.217
And let's spread the message of God's faithfulness far and wide.

00:36:35.637 --> 00:36:42.117
If you want a copy of this devotional, it will be available on Diary of a Black Woman website,

00:36:44.117 --> 00:36:48.957
diaryofblackwomenllc.com. And until next time, we'll see you. Goodbye.