By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead and, figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.

Hebrews 11:17-19

You may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 1:6-7

Prayer Points

Pray for anyone you know who is going through a hard time. Pray that their faith will not fail.

Pray for any young people who are causing anxiety to their parents: “Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children” (Lamentations 2:19).

Pray for the parents, too.

     DAY 20 : TESTING

Abraham is called the “father of faith” for good reason. Called by God to leave his homeland and his family, in effect everything from which he derived his identity and security, Abraham agreed to travel to a land he knew nothing about. It was a hard test, one that his father, Terah, had failed, preferring to stop in Haran, but Abraham took up the call and moved out.

Once in the land God promised him a son, but as the years went by Sarah’s barrenness almost consumed hope. However, God kept his word and in time she gave birth to Isaac. The son of promise had arrived. But what of God’s next command “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering..” What was Abraham to do with that? But early the next day Abraham is ready to obey..... He had learnt to trust God.

Testing strengthens our faith, “the testing of your faith develops perseverance...so that you may be mature and complete.” It can hit us in many personal ways such as sudden illness, financial difficulties, childlessness, bereavement, broken relationships or the seeming silence of God in times of desperate prayer. The testings seem to defy God’s love and faithfulness, yet we are called to believe the truth in the face of adverse circumstances.

Hold on! For God is faithful and “blessed is the man who

perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he

will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those

who love him (James 1:12).

Pray

*    Pray for your ‘big issue’

*    Pray for your ‘three friends’

*    Pray for a new wave of revival.