Following God into the Promise
God’s Heart
Opening your heart to God’s Word is a beautiful, life-altering experience. God’s Word is His heart. As we read it and reflect upon it, the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts and guides us according to His perfect will for our lives.
For those of us who are directionally-challenged, apps like Waze and Google Maps are a life saver. How amazing is it that our phones talk to us and tell us every turn to make until somewhat miraculously we arrive at our destination! If only life could be navigated so easily and with such precise directions. Of course that’s not how life works and that isn’t how God guides and directs either. Abraham knew this well; yet, he followed God. He followed God into the uncertainty, trusting in the promises He made to him.
Abraham did not know where he was going, but there are some things he knew. He knew it was away from his kindred and away from his community. He knew it was away from his country and away from his father’s house. Abraham knew he was leaving behind his roots and all that was home to him.
Genesis 12:4:
So Abram went, as the LORD had told him..
Hebrews 11:8b :
And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
We cannot help but marvel at the faith of one who leaves everything he knows to follow God, but Abraham had faith in God and His promise. In fact, he followed God into the promise. As we have been learning, ultimately, the promise Abraham journeyed toward - his destination - was Jesus. He followed God into the promise of a Savior who would make all things new. Jesus Himself told the Pharisees that Abraham trusted in His coming.
John 8:56:
“…Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.”
Abraham trusted God’s promise of offspring, a true home, and the blessing of the nations - all of which would be ultimately fulfilled in the coming of the Messiah. He trusted that he would see Jesus’ day, and he rejoiced in that. He looked beyond the moment, beyond the days of his own earthly sojourn, trusting that what God was doing in him and through him was building something far bigger than himself and his individual life. He trusted that his life on earth counted for eternity. He knew that all God called him to do during his earthly sojourn mattered in the life that was to come in eternity, not just for him but for his offspring after him.
Abraham didn’t look back or turn back to that land from which he had gone out, where he was safe, familiar and at home, as he would have had opportunity to return. When circumstances became challenging, Abraham stayed the course.
Hebrews 11:13-16:
13 These [Abraham and his descendants] all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
Despite the dangers of sojourning in an unknown land, as well as old age, famine and strife, Abraham never turned back. The reason Abraham stayed the course is he desired a better country, that is, a heavenly one. He followed God away from earthly desires and toward heavenly ones.
Like Abraham, sometimes we might not know where we are going. Things might not add up or look like we thought they would. There is no doubt, this moment in history for us in our earthly homeland is marked by an extreme unsettledness. We can relate to Abraham’s struggles in a foreign land. In fact, for the believer, the sense of being a foreigner in a land is deeply felt today in America. We are not at home, and the unsettledness - the utter chaos - of our times is felt in our bodies and in our spirits. We may be tempted to look back to simpler times and give up on the plans God has for us, but God’s promises still stand. We must look forward and trust God to use our lives to build His Kingdom.
In Luke 9, Jesus uses the example of a man putting his hand to the plow to teach us to look forward. If a farmer looks back while he is plowing, he will veer off course. Just as the farmer has to keep looking forward while he plows, so do we as we sojourn on earth and follow God. Just as Abraham looked forward to the promise and followed God into it, so must we.
Luke 9:62:
Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
It is often easier to look at what lies behind, to stay in the familiar and comfortable rather than to move forward, but such a mindset is stifling. Looking forward to what God has for us, and the new things he desires to do with our lives, is life-giving. Paul also affirms this.
Philippians 3:13b -14:
But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
As Abraham’s offspring - as people of promise - we are called to live forward-looking lives. If we fix our gaze upon Him and allow Him to lead us, we will never veer of course.
Psalm 32:8:
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
John 12:26:
If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
Share Your Heart
Consider the following discussion starters as you share your hearts with one another:
Abraham rejoiced that he would see Jesus’ day. He knew God’s promise was eternal, and he gave up all he knew to follow God into that promise. God won’t ask that of most of us, but he might call us out of our comfort zones. Have you ever felt challenged by following God into His promise of hope, peace, and freedom? Does following Him stretch you? Share your experiences with one another.
We said that it is often easier to look at what lies behind, but looking forward to what God has for us and the new things he desires to do with our lives, is far more life-giving. Does anyone have a story of moving forward with God’s help? Are any of you struggling to forget what lies behind? Discuss these things and encourage one another in the Lord.
Psalm 32:8 says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” The Lord promises to counsel you in the way to go. How do you think God teaches you and speaks to you? Share your experiences with one another, including how you stay close enough to hear from Him.
The Cries of Your Heart
At Hearts Together Women, we believe that the Lord hears the cries of our hearts.
We also believe in prayer partnership because God’s Word teaches us that partnering with one another in prayer is powerful.
James 5:16 says, “Therefore…pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
And Jesus encourages us, “When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there” (Matthew 18:19-20, The Message).
What amazing promises!
Here is how prayer partnership works at a Hearts Together Gathering:
After we share in the Word and discussion, your facilitator will ask each woman for her prayer requests. All you need to do is share your requests - the cries of your heart - because we all have them.
We encourage you to request prayer for 1) your own needs; 2) the needs of your family and loved ones; and 3) the needs you see around you - in the workplace, the school, the neighborhood or even the nation.
After the requests are shared, your gathering facilitator will lead in a prayer for the needs that were put forth.
In the following days, we encourage you to pray for the requests of the other women in your gathering. They will do the same for you. That’s what prayer partnership is all about!
As we partner with one another in prayer, we trust the Lord will meet with us and answer us in accordance with His perfect will.
Your Heart to His
Maybe you felt the Holy Spirit stirring something in your heart during this gathering. It doesn’t have to end here. Take it home. In the followings days, continue to pursue Him. Spend some time alone and quiet, away from the noise of life - just you and Jesus.
Tell Him the cries of your heart. He is listening; He cares, and He does answer. Praying is kind of like having a conversation with your best friend. He created you, so He already knows everything about you. He just wants to be with you.
After you pray, reread the Scriptures and thoughts under God’s Heart. Reflect upon the verses and how they speak to you and your life.
Here are some things you might contemplate and pray about:
Abraham followed God into the promise. Despite the dangers of sojourning in an unknown land, as well as old age, famine and strife, Abraham never turned back. The reason Abraham stayed the course is he desired a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Following Jesus into the promise isn’t always easy or without difficulty, but the promise is an eternal one. He offers us the hope of permanent residency in His presence. Contemplate that promise and pray about taking a forward-looking stance as your journey toward your destination in Him.
This is just between you and Jesus - your heart to His. Make space in your busy days to spend some time with Him.
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Do you have a Bible? If not, there are many digital options - Bible apps, etc. We suggest starting with John’s Gospel.
