Words of Encouragement

The title of this work is "Ask Me". It was done by one of my daughters, Jamie. The details of the picture is that each line represents a direction or path, but you won't know which one is correct, until you ask the one that made the map. Isn't it interesting that is the same way it is with us. We can take many paths, but they are not all the correct one. To find out if we are on the correct path, we have to ask the "map maker", God.

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers." Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, "As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. - Genesis 17:1-5

What Changes us? Walking with God. Abram had received a promise from God when he was 75 years old. Here it is 24 years later and his promise still has not come to pass. Yet, something significant is about to happen, let's step into the scene to examine what happens.God talks to Abram and tells him to walk before him blameless and he will fulfill in him what has been promised. Abram falls down before God and God gives him something else, he gives him a new name. Abram's name was changed to Abraham (which means father of many nations).

Abram had walked with God sometime and now the change is coming and something wonderfully is about to happen.There is much we can learn from this exchange. The first thing is, God has a promise, a purpose placed on each of our lives even if we have not seen it yet. It took 25 years before the promises was fulfilled in Abraham's life, but it was done. We must not grow weary as we wait for our change to come.

The second point is his name changed. He went from being "the old" name to the "new" name. We go from being the "old" man to the "new" man. We were once sinners to being a child of the most high King. Not only has our name been changed, but our nature and who we are, we have put off the old and have become new.This is what happens when you decide to walk with God. He will equip you to walk blameless before him so that you can exhibit the "newness" of who you are.

What changes us, our walk with God will do that. As we grow in Christ, we are sanctified (perfected daily) so that we don't look the same as we did yesterday, or the year before.Lord today I pray that you will help us to walk closely with you so that we can hear you speaking to us your purpose, your mission and that we will allow you to change us. Remove all of the "old" and replace it with the "new". Make us over so that we look more like you each day.