The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation.
I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1-3 NLT
Abram’s native country was a place that he was used to his whole life. His relatives were those who had been a part of his growing years. His father’s family was where he had the deepest bonds and richest experiences.
But God calls Abram out. God calls him out of the familiar into the unfamiliar. Why does God do that? Why would God ask you to leave where you are used to into a place of uncertainty? Why?
Imagine walking out from a place you have known your whole life. Imagine stepping away from those with whom you have shared your best seasons in life.
Imagine living behind a people whom you have grown to love and accept. Imagine walking away from all of these to an unknown place that God will show him.
Why does God choose to call him out of his familiar place?
Because the familiar is never enough. God wants you to be more and do more.
Because your comfort zone can become your own limitation, and God has bigger and better plans for you.
God called Abram from his familiar place and showed him a vision of the future he had for him. He told him all these nice things that would happen in that future. He told him about a place that he will show him.
What is that place God is showing you? What is that vision or future God is leading and calling you into?
What is that dream and idea that God is showing you? What is God speaking to you?
When God asked Abram to leave his familiar place, it was because he had something far better for him. God wanted to bless him and make him a blessing on the earth. But Abram also had a part to play.
He had to walk away from his familiar place.
I can imagine his relatives mocking him. I can hear them call him a fool. I can hear them tease him and call him names.
What is your familiar place? What is that thing you have been used to doing and saying your whole life?
What are those mindsets that you have accepted as true? What are those false traditions that have been handed down to you?
What are those wrong belief systems that you are holding on to? What are those limitations in your life?
What is your familiar place?
God is calling you out today to a higher and better place. God is calling you to step into more and become more. God is calling you to a better and greater future.
Will you find courage today to walk away from your familiar places?
So easy to fall into a routine and never want to leave again. God helps us to keep following him as he leads us.