The Lord said to Abram . . . “All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.”— Genesis 13:14-15

Thought Of The Day...
As the elder family member, Abraham had the right to choose which land he would take for himself. But he surrendered that right and let his nephew Lot choose first. Setting his sights on greater things, Abraham trusted God to take care of him, no matter which part of the land he would receive.

In faith, Abraham turned the situation over to the Lord—not allowing his possessions to possess him. This freed him to enjoy God’s blessings without clinging to them or grasping for more. Abraham was able to hold on loosely to the things of this world.

And surprisingly, Abraham received more than he gave up. God promised him that one day all of the land he could see around him would belong to him and his descendants. From this we learn that God honors those who yield their rights and surrender their resources for his greater purposes.

Abraham’s choice points us to Jesus, who chose to give up his rights for a more glorious purpose. Philippians 2:6-9 explains that Jesus “did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,” but instead “emptied himself” for our sake. And in doing that, he received “the name that is above every name.” Be ­assured that God blesses all who entrust their future to him.

Prayer...
Heavenly Father, We come to you with grateful hearts for your unfailing love and mercy. You have shown us your great love through sending your Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins on the cross. Your word in Genesis 13:14-15 reminds us that you have promised to bless and multiply your people, just as you promised to Abraham. We are your descendants, chosen and loved by you, and we thank you for your abounding grace.

Lord, we pray for a heart like Abraham, one that trusts and obeys your every command. Help us to leave behind the things of this world and focus on your promises and plans for our lives. May we have the courage to step out in faith, knowing that you are with us every step of the way.

Guide us, O Lord, to be a reflection of your love and grace to those around us. May our lives point others to your great love for us and draw them closer to you. Give us opportunities to share the gospel and spread your kingdom here on earth.

Lord, we also pray for your provision and guidance as we journey through life. May we continually trust in your timing and plans, knowing that you have good things in store for us. We ask these things in Jesus name, Amen.