“And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.

Now the LORD had said to Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from they kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew(show) thee:

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot with with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls they had gotten in Haran (people that were with their family); and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.”  GENESIS 11:31, & GENESIS 12:1-5

Abram thought that he and his family would just be settling down, situated as usual with his father’s house, living out the rest of life as he had, but that change, that move was only leading to a much better one.

God had other plans, I love the fact that Abram was seventy-five years old when he received that call.

Proof positive that we are never too “old” to begin an entirely new chapter in the book of our life, we’ll look at that a little more in the next post.

But for Abram this chapter of Abram’s life would make the earlier years as nothing.

Not only a new beginning but also a new identity.

Even the birth of his commission from the Lord, a change that would lead him into his God-given destiny as the father of nations.

He had to have faith, I’m also not quite sure how Sarai, or Lot felt about all this, she probably not so good, as many wouldn’t want to leave everything they had known, taking all that they had, symbolically proclaiming that they would never return as they left nothing that they would need to go back for.

We can think of this in our own lives as burning bridges, burning the ship, all those cool old sayings that lead to the same conclusion, never going back there again.

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before(ahead).” PHILIPPIANS 3:13

We know the ending of Abrams story, God changed his name to Abraham and led him forth into his destiny as the father of nations.

Israel and the Jewish people from that time even unto now and as the Messiah came forth, those who believe on him are  spiritually members of that great nation accounted to Abraham.

Even today, people still being born into Jewish households and converting, and others still accepting Christ, those nations of Abraham are still growing as God foretold:

“That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of the enemy.” GENESIS 22: 17

Your probably thinking, “That’s all well and good for Abraham, but what’s it have to do with me, Lady?”

So glad you asked!

“Where there is no vision, the people perish…” from PROVERBS 29:18

That applies to spiritual vision, Where is the flock going? What is the objective?

I thinks sometimes vision has been hindered by the pressure put on leaders through media, seeing mega churches with congregations in the thousands and even with us cyber ministers, there is always something popping up telling you how to “improve” your site hits.

The devil working through people, mimicking David’s older brother Eliab as he tried to devalue David’s job as a shepherd by asking about those “few sheep” trying to minimize the importance of that flock and attempting to make David feel inferior.

I love how that all ends, David became king and as for Eliab, well, from what I have studied, never read anything about him again.

All this can make us miss the big picture, God sends us to whom we are sent to, and some flocks are small because those particular sheep may need a pasture in which to graze that is more personal and connected.

If there are ten thousand in a flock, how does the Shepherd keep up with every lamb and more importantly with what’s going on in the life of that lamb. 

And granted I am sure there are lambs that are more comfortable in bigger congregations, kinda like anonymity for shy people.

We have to have vision for the future, this also applies in my belief to our own lives.

Especially when we’ve gone through terrible seasons or just changes that comes as natural part of life.

We can lose our direction, our bearing, and even our hope.

And I am the Queen of funk, I don’t say anything here that doesn’t apply to me also.

We all go through periods of sadness, grief, the blues, and the funk, when you feel like you can’t get your head up enough to even think straight much less know where you are supposed to be going.

That’s the beauty, we don’t know where we are going, only God does and he does indeed have a plan, a good plan for all of our lives, a plan far beyond that which troubles and torments us today.

Classic: JEREMIAH 29:11: ” For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end (future)”

PSALMS 32:8: “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”  (meaning that he lovingly watches our every step)

PSALMS 139:10: “Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right shall hold me.” (referencing any where we can possible find ourselves, he is there)

We have to be like Abram and be ready for that move and while we wait and seek guidance concerning our next direction, we should by faith prepare for the move.

Little things, changing a routine, adding something new to your morning or evening, finding a new hobby or something new that you would like to research or learn.

Change something in your home, rearrange  furniture, wear a color or piece of clothing that you would have never chosen before.

Just start changing something and as you do, add something else as you wait for that guidance and that new vision for your life.

Abram left all that he had ever known and I am sure that was hard, and as Paul said, he forgot those things which were behind, in his past, not meaning we ever forget the good times or cherished memories, but that we are to forge ahead knowing that Christ has a beautiful destiny and more beautiful memories to be made, but we must get going and get past the funk.

Just as Paul said, he reached for that which is before, that which is ahead. we have to move in order to discover where we are going and we are not going to know where we are going, like Abram until we get there.

He may have had the destination but he hadn’t a clue as to the incredible destiny.

So if we are ever going to get to where we don’t where we are going, we better get started. so how do we do that?

By asking him, and he hears, he hears even the silent cries of our heart, the faintest whisper of  “Father, you see this, you know how I feel and the things that trouble my heart but I believe your word and I believe this is not where my story ends but that you, in your majesty, wisdom, mercy and goodness can let this be where the story of my life actually begins. Help me step out and lead me into the path that you have chosen, allow me to go forth, as Paul and Abram and so many others, in the boldness, courage, and above all hope in you.”

Ask in Jesus’ name, believe, and know you are heard.

Step out with those small changes, building your faith in doing so and fighting off that funk as your new path, your new beginning is being revealed.

I want to finish up with another classic passage, but as lambs, savor this, verse by verse, slowly.

“My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart (always hold to mercy and truth, keep them close and in your heart):

So shalt thou (you will)  find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (trust God and do not try to analyze life)

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” PROVERBS 3:1-6

Blessings, Love & Peace Fight off that funk and don’t let that funk destroy your destiny, it is there you just have to step into it!

ΦλογιζωNBJ 2025/ Rev. N Brown Johnson