9.1.18 Praise & Prayer Prompt: Do You Trust God With What You Hold Most Dear?

PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• When you think of the person you hold most dear in your life, what name comes to mind?
What if God told you to give that person up?
Could you do it?
When God instructed Abraham to offer his much-loved son, Isaac, as a sacrifice, it was the ultimate test of loyalty and faithfulness.
It was a test no parent would want to face.
Yet, Abraham was willing to obey.
This event is found in Genesis 22, and what I find fascinating is in verse 5…
“‘Stay here with the donkey,’ Abraham told the servants. ‘The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.’”
Notice the use of “we.”
Abraham was willing to obey God’s command to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering, but his faith in God was so tremendous, he told his servants, “WE will come right back.” (Emphasis mine.)
When Isaac asked about the lamb a couple of verses later, Abraham replied, “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” (Genesis 22:8a).
The series of events that follow find Isaac tied up and laying on a stack of wood, with Abraham standing over him with a knife, prepared to kill him.
God intervened and Isaac was spared, with a nearby ram offered up instead.
And “we,” did return to the servants.
The relief and gratitude that Abraham must have felt would have been overwhelming.
God tested him and Abraham passed with flying colors.
God’s not going to ask us to sacrifice our loved ones on an altar, but He does have a similar expectation of us…
He expects us to make Him first in our lives.
He expects us to put obedience to Him above all other people and issues.
When we consider the question, “Do you trust God with what you hold most dear?” the answer to that question should be a resounding yes!
Because at the end of the day, all that we have is the result of His generous hand.
It all belongs to Him.
If we put apply a higher value to anything other than God Himself, we aren’t trusting.
We aren’t obeying.
And we aren’t being faithful.
The first commandment is, “You must not have any other god but me.” (Exodus 20:3).
Our Ten Commandments came approximately 650 years after Abraham, but Abraham instinctively knew that no matter how much he loved his son, he needed to love God more.
And faith in God emboldens us to trust Him with everything in our lives.
Is that something you can say holds true for you too?
Today, as you pray, thank God for Abraham’s example of faith lived out.
Thank Him for being faithful and for the special relationships He brings in our lives.
But pray that you will always keep Him first.
No matter what, ask the Holy Spirit to help you make God your first priority, above all others.
Questions to consider:

1. Do you acknowledge that everything you have is from the generous hand of God?
2. Is God first in your life, above all other relationships and responsibilities?
3. Do you trust God with what you hold most dear?