“When we follow God to a new land, beautiful things are on the other side of our obedience, but those things don’t always come easily. Following God requires us to overcome fear and the contentment of living comfortably in our old names and labels.”- Esther Fleece Allen
“And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and the he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”- Hebrews 11:6 (NLT)
In Chapter 4 (“Getting Unstuck from Your Past”) of Your New Name, Esther Fleece Allen emphasizes that God consistently works out the detail of our lives. No twists or turns surprise Him. Most significantly, God holds the universe together. And, simultaneously, He knit us together in our mother’s wombs and held our tiny human hearts. After all, He’s the God of details!
Furthermore, the book of Ruth provides ample evidence that God is in the details. Because in Ruth we see God’s providence in the midst of tragedy. Above all, the book of Ruth shows that even when we feel God’s lost sight of us, He’s present in the details. In addition, we find that Ruth valued relationships. For example, Ruth chose to maintain her relationship with Naomi — and especially Naomi’s God. Yahweh, the God of the Bible.
Sometimes God calls us to stay – and sometimes to go. However, no cookie-cutter approach exists for any of us. As unique children of God, He desires and individual relationship with us. Thus, God customizes seasons of growth for each of us. As a result, ask God to:
- help you choose the best path, not the easiest one
- give you the feet to handle whatever path He puts you on
- help you make decisions by faith in order to please Him
Finally, Esther observes, times of crisis and need reveal our character. For example, in the book of Ruth:
- Orpah returned to the familiar
- Ruth walked in faith to a new land
- Naomi fell into the trap of bitterness
The road you choose impacts discovering your new name.
Today’s question: What Scriptures help you follow God to a new land? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Rename yourself prematurely – not!”
