WordLive - Year OneSample

Prepare: Think of a time when you had to ‘come to your senses’ and turn back to God. Give thanks for God’s patience and grace.

Back on track
After the ‘detour’ to Egypt Abram returns to where he had earlier built an altar and he again calls on the name of the Lord (12:8; 13:3,4). He gets back to the place where things were right between him and God, where God had his rightful place in Abram’s life.

How important it is for us to be able to turn back to God, to know that he welcomes us again and again with open arms.

Lesson learned
Practical difficulties arise because Abram and Lot have become very wealthy and there is competition between them for the best pasture for the multitude of animals. As Abram faces this challenge he is able to act with both wisdom and generosity.

He has learned the lesson about not taking things into his own hands and now he is willing to let Lot make a free choice, trusting that God will take care of the promise he has made to Abram.

Holding loosely
This is such an important lesson for us to learn. When we trust God with our lives, our careers, our relationships, all our needs, then we do not have to cling tightly to things in order to get our own way. We are able to hold things loosely, which allows for a generosity of spirit towards others.

Respond: What will trusting God in everything look like in your life today?

http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-03-21