Abram to Aundrea

Yesterday on the Subte (no fainting this time), I took the time to pray in the spirit as I traveled to Plaza de Mayo (I will speak about this in another post). I began to think of Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your hear and lean not to your own understanding." In the natural, most people would not be able to get a strong handle on a language in such a short time but this scripture reminds me that God is above the natural. Zech 4:6 reminds us that success comes, "not by force nor by strength, but by my [God's] Spirit." As I continued to listen for God, He told me specific things I could do to help train my tongue and my ear for Spanish.

This morning I read Gen 15 and 16 and God showed me how Abram's and my situations are similar and how I can learn to allow God to be the pilot for my journey. If you read the story, you will see that when Abram asked questions in efforts to understand God refused to entice the mind and instead engaged the heart. God wanted him to do Proverbs 3:5--trust with all his HEART and not rely on his UNDERSTANDING. These heart engaging words that God spoke to him were words of comfort, from which Abrams faith could later cling to. So often we battle to understand when the true battle lies in the ability to trust. Understanding the how was not as important or instrumental in learning to trust and knowing that God would follow through. But I digress :)

Even after Abram believed God he still had questions about logistics. This encouraged me because my faith is not yet perfect and so at times I may feel that I need more answers (or substance) to continue to move forward. This momentary faltering is natural but we must seek to return to a place of trust in God. When Abram faltered, God again engage his heart instead of enticing his mind, telling him to worship Him. It is comforting to know that when I get off track or too concerned with the "How", God will redirect me (and you), just as he did with Abram. James 2:22, speaking of Abram, says that "by works was faith made perfect." Heeding God's redirection will not only get us in the mode of trusting Him again, it will also strengthen our faith because what God does to redirect us requires action on our part. These actions are contrary to what we are feeling at the moment (but that is the whole idea behind redirection). Another word for action is works. The more we allow God to redirect us, the more perfect our faith will become and the greater works God can do in our lives.

God told me that I will only succeed in learning this language as far as MY faith will reach so I must take God's redirection and the opportunities to doubt as a chance to strengthen my faith and I will.