We have been talking at length about faith, believing God, and trusting in him.  Yet faith for many remains obscure.  How do we get this faith?  We usually answer that question by knowing God's word and putting it into practice.  Yet I think we can learn a great deal from Abraham.  Abraham was the father of our faith and he began by going out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed, and he went out, not knowing whither he went (Heb11:8).  Abraham did not lean on his own understanding.  He obeyed God rather than trusting in the security of family or leaning on natural means of protection.  Only years later when having a conversation with God, God promised him a son in his old age and seed like the stars in heaven, “And he believed in the Lord, and he counted it to him for righteousness.”(Gen15:6)  Prior to his faith act, Abraham learned not to lean on his own understanding but to lean on God.  For most people we get our security from job, wealth, family, and friends.  We are naturally inclined to lean on them.  But in order to live by faith we must learn to lean on God.  Yes we need money, a job, friends, and family, health and strength, but when we learn to lean on God, we recognize God as the source of all our blessings and we give God the credit for what we have.  We are not owed anything in this world.  We are born with a sin nature and we do some things well and some things less than good.  So until we are born again and learn to lean on God, our faith must be tried and tested for it to grow.  Just as Abraham needed to obey God and step out in faith, so do we.  By leaning on God Abraham learned how to hear God and to believe what God promised contrary to his old age and feebleness, and it was credit to him as righteousness.

    The last verse of Matthew six tells us that “sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof”  I take this to mean that if we stay within the security of natural wealth and possessions and do not venture out in faith we may remain shallow in our walk with God and ill equipped to meet the challenges of life.  When we are not able to fend for ourselves, when sickness, loss of job, loss of friend, or loss of wealth strikes, it is then that we either learn to lean on God or falter.  We may struggle with lack for a long time before we learn to lean on God.  But evidence of learning to lean on God is joy and faith regardless of the trial and when we learn to lean, when God does speak to our inner man, we, like Abraham, will believe and it will be counted to him as righteousness.

    Do not trust in horse or chariot.  Do not trust in what is natural.  Learn to trust in God and God will provide what is needed for spirit, mind, body, relationships, and finance.  When you are inspired to do something that is good but contrary to logic, do it and you will begin the process of learning to lean.  God is our refuge and our strength and our strong tower.  Be at it for God and then like Abraham , God will speak a promise from God's word to you and you will believe and God will be pleased.

amen