“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.” Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭8‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Yesterday I talked about cultivating our own truth like Abram and Sarai did when making their own plans to have a son. The good news, even though their plan wasn’t God’s plan He was still faithful in His promise to Abraham. Can you imagine being told at the age of 100 that your wife is going to bear a son? Can you imagine birthing a baby at the age of 90 to a son you had been promised 25 years earlier?

The biblical definition of faith is found in Hebrews 11:1 NIV, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Martin Luther King Jr. Also defines faith in his speech at the New York Cities Park-Sheraton Hotel in 1962, “Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.” Our faith is like this photo by Ray White because we don’t know God’s big-picture plans until they happen. We might think it looks like something different and there will be times we mess up along the way. Like Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and Rehab we need to keep the faith and prayerfully take the next step.

I urge you to read all of Hebrews 11 which is known as the “Faith Hall of Fame. And in case you missed “True God Thursday’s” post, I encourage you to go back and read it.

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

For the first time, I am reading the Bible in a year through the Run for God Club. As a result, I have been reading the Old Testament. I am reminded of a world that lived before Jesus’s birth, death, and resurrection. I have been reminded of the same sin that tempted Eve tempts us today. In particular, the story of Abraham and Sarah has been speaking to me. Their story begins in Genesis, Chapter 12 when they were known as Abram and Sarai. They both wanted a son and were willing to cultivate their own truth versus waiting on God’s promise. Let’s recap!

In Genesis 15:4 NIV we read how God promised Abram a son; “Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.”

In Genesis 16:2 NIV we read how Sarai came up with her own plan for a son, “so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed to what Sarai said.” Genesis‬ ‭16‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In Genesis 17:16 NIV we read how God continued to be faithful even when Abraham and Sarah cultivated their own truth, “I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”

What truth are you believing today? In a world of full of sin it is easy to cultivate our own truth. Thankfully we are blessed by living on this side of the cross. We are blessed with the way, the truth, and the life through our Savior, Christ Jesus. Good news, even when we fall outside the will of God, His saving grace loves us unconditionally.

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭40‬ ‭NIV‬‬

At a 1957 speech in Montgomery, Alabama Martin Luther King Jr. spoke the words, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?'” This quote reminds me of our key verse from the Apostle Matthew. I think it is easy for us to forget that what we do for the least of these we are doing for God.

I am calling today, “What Wednesday?” Maybe your what is to pray for someone or pick up groceries for someone in need. Possibly you’re volunteering at Helping Hands or delivering food to a recovery center. The picture above from Ray White was taken in little old Georgetown, South Carolina. Our town tends to be referred to as “between Myrtle Beach and Charleston.” I am sure in comparison there might seem little to do. In reality, there is so much that can be done.

In Colossians 3:23 NIV we read, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” As you reflect on your “what,” I encourage you to listen and watch the music video, “Do Something” by Matthew West. Whatever you do, serve with your whole heart.

 ^“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

Something about a new calendar year inspires us to look forward and make resolutions for the upcoming 12 months, just as the end of a year often causes reflection. At the beginning of a new year we can make proclamations and promises to get more exercise, eat better, kick bad habits, maybe finally read that classic book that has sat on the shelf for 20 years.

Each year Deborah and Julie select a word and a mantra of the year, and so do I. This year my word is “prayer” and my mantra is “God is always with me.” I resolve to pray more often each day and offer thanks. God has promised he will never leave my side!

In our busy lives it is easy to say prayers before bedtime or in a time of need. But that isn’t what Paul directed. “Pray continually.” While we will fall short of continuous prayer we can have a prayerful attitude at all times. Such an attitude acknowledges our dependence on God. We can pray frequent short prayers. We can establish times each day when we stop whatever we are doing and pray, giving sincere thanks to God, even in difficult times, because He has provided a path to eternal life through His son, Jesus Christ. I will rejoice, because “God is always with me.”

Joshua 1:9 NIV reads, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Did you choose a word for 2023? Do you have a mantra or quote that you want to shape your days? It’s not too late. We would love to hear from you about what God has laid on your heart.

~ Ray White

“The Lord our God said to us at Horeb, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Take a moment on this Moving Forward Monday to look at this photo by Ray White. He used a long exposure to get motion blur of the Skywheel and people walking on the street. In our key verse, Moses is speaking to the Israelites as they are on the edge of the Promised Land. They had stayed long enough and it was time to move forward off that mountain. I imagine the Israelites felt like their path had been blurred after wandering for forty years.

How often do we get paralyzed with fear or confusion? We tend to battle our minds sometimes wondering if we heard God correctly or if we are equipped for the task. Or maybe the season or trial has been too tough for us to see the good that is ahead. In my running journey, a quote from Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech at Spelman College in 1960 often gets me moving, “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”

In the song “Promised Land” by Toby Mac and Sheryl Crow, some of the lyrics sing, “I won’t give up on this race. Broken but I still have faith” and “Through all these seasons. I’m still believin’.” What mountain do you need to move from? What valley are you stuck in? Just remember that God has plans for all of us; “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭63‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This Psalm of David was written while in the desert of Judah. Even in our desert places, we are satisfied when we earnestly seek God and choose to glorify Him. When praise is on our lips we can feel satisfied. A synonym to satisfy is quench which is exactly what our first response should be in those desert places, to quench our souls with praise on our lips.

In the worship song “Satisfied” by Chris Tomlin he talks about how the mountains that we ascend often leave us empty. Our focus tends to be on achievement but it is in the process where we should seek to find God’s goodness. We can count our blessings one by one within the day-to-day and be satisfied.

Will you join me in choosing to earnestly seek God first this week? Will you quench your soul through praise and worship? Will you count your blessings one by one? Let’s make prayer and worship our first response rather than our last resort.

“So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul—”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭11‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Click the link and join me for See You Saturday. We are all loved and redeemable!

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Check our Ray White on IG, @D.Ray.White

Apple Podcast: “Old Roots New Fruits” by Holly Furtick

Song “I Got You” by Zach Williams

Julie Wicker’s 2023 Word and Mantra

Deborah Ard’s 2023 Word and Mantra