Praise in the Process

Introduction

Guys, we’ve made it a whole three and a half weeks into the fall semester! However, I still find myself settling into the rhythms of this new chapter of life. I have a budget to manage, a social life to balance, and academics to keep up with. Some days, I feel so independent and other days, I feel I need more help. I still have that sense of suspension in my adjusting to college life and perhaps some of you fellow students do too. In an attempt to ease some of our worries, I want us to take a look at Abraham’s story today and glean from it, as he was once in his own phase of transition and calling. Hopefully, we can find some encouragement as we see how Abraham walks in faith and praises God in the process. Let’s dig in. 

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Passages

All Scripture is from the CSB Bible.

Genesis 12:1-2

The Lord said to Abram:
Go from your land,
your relatives,
and your father’s house
to the land that I will show you.
² I will make you into a great nation,
I will bless you,
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
^{. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .} 

Right off the bat, we see God tell Abraham to leave: to abandon the familiarity of his homeland and his family to follow the Lord. God is requiring Abraham to trust Him and walk in faith. Likewise, many of us have been called in this season of life to leave the comfort of our friendships and homes to faithfully follow God, whether we have traveled twenty minutes or twenty hours to be here. In the story, we see God faithfully walk alongside Abraham, showing His plan in bits and pieces. From this, I think we should take hope, knowing that God is faithful and will be with us on our journey. We don’t need to know the whole plan, just take one faithful step at a time. For what is faith if we know the whole plan? Would we also not be overwhelmed by the expansiveness of it? 

It is amazing to see how God works through the people who choose to follow Him. Even though Abraham was a 75 year-old who bore no children, God still used him in mighty ways for His glorification. We are never too young, too old, too incapable, nor too far gone to be used by God. In these first few weeks of school, I sure have felt a sense of helplessness in my capabilities, trying to gain a sense of footing. Looking at this story helps me realize the importance of each encounter I have and each decision I make, surrendering them for God’s use. No matter the circumstance or where I am in my faith, I am comforted by the fact God only asks me to walk faithfully day by day. 

Genesis 12:4, 8

⁴ So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran . . .
⁸ From there he moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. He built an altar to the Lord there, and he called on the name of the Lord.

As Abraham obeys God’s calling, we see how he responds to God’s guidance. I want to hone in on verse 8. I love how Abraham’s first instinct is to worship after being led to that certain place in Bethel by God. I think we so often try to hurry and continue forward without being sure of God’s path for us that we do not give enough time to pause where we are and to praise Him. It’s one thing to keep pushing forward and not be stagnant in one place (unless told by God to remain and/or He closes doors), but I have been trying to learn to slow down and let my first reaction to God’s guidance be worship!

Genesis 15:5-6

⁵ He took him outside and said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.”
⁶ Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Further along in Abraham’s story, Abraham’s response of belief makes me consider my own perception of God. Lately, I have found myself minimizing God’s power, preferring my own. But now, I truly desire to understand and view God as Abraham did. I want to accredit Him properly for His might and goodness, doing so daily! 

Romans 4:13

¹³ For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 

I wanted to close with mentioning the greatness of God’s promises and plans! By walking in faithfulness, Abraham got to play a huge role in the salvation story God has written. Romans 4:13 tells us that God’s promise to Abraham allows salvation to be offered not only to his descendants but to all who believe in Jesus. Because of Jesus’ perfect fulfillment of the law, God only requires faith and belief in Him, so we should step out and follow where He leads. 

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Conclusion

I say all this to remind you to praise God in the process, not at its completion! In your walk of faithfulness, praise Him along the journey for His great plans and great faithfulness. Wherever you are in your college career, whether you are a freshman at the starting line or a senior nearing the end, I hope that you can find comfort in God’s unchanging nature and glorify Him right where you are. I pray for myself and for you to know Him fully and accredit Him all due righteousness.

Questions for Thought:

• What are certain things God is calling you to leave to follow Him?
• How can we humble ourselves and view ourselves as God sees us?
• What are your first responses to God’s provision? 
• How can you broaden your perspective of His plan? 
• How can you take time to pause throughout the day to make room for praise?
• How can you align your heart to His desires?

Song for the Day