The story of Abram’s call in Genesis 12 is one of the most profound examples of faith in action. Imagine being asked to leave behind everything familiar—your home, your family, your community—and step into a future that is entirely unknown, guided only by the promises of God. This passage is not just a historical account; it is a living invitation for us to trust God with our own journeys. Today’s devotional reflects on how we can embrace God’s call by dreaming boldly, planning wisely, praying fervently, and acting faithfully.
Genesis 12:1-2 The New International Version
1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
2 “I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
1. Dream: Envisioning God’s Purpose
Every significant move of God begins with a dream—a vision planted in our hearts that reflects His greater purpose. For Abram, that dream was encapsulated in God’s promise: to make him into a great nation and a source of blessing for others. This was not just about personal gain; it was about participating in God’s redemptive plan for the world.
- Biblical Insight: Jeremiah 29:11 assures us that God’s plans are for our good—to prosper us and give us hope. Dreams are often the first glimpse of those plans.
- Reflection: What dreams has God placed in your heart? Are they aligned with His Word and character? Take time to discern whether these aspirations reflect His glory or merely personal ambition.
Dreaming is an act of faith. It requires us to lift our eyes beyond the limitations of our current circumstances and trust that God can do far more than we can imagine (Ephesians 3:20). Like Abram, we must be willing to dream big because we serve a big God.
2. Plan: Aligning Your Steps With Faith
Dreams without plans remain just that—dreams. Planning is where vision meets action. While Abram didn’t have all the details of his journey mapped out, he took practical steps to prepare for what lay ahead. Planning is not about controlling every outcome but about stewarding what God has entrusted to us with wisdom and diligence.
- Biblical Insight: Proverbs 16:9 reminds us that while we plan our course, it is the Lord who establishes our steps. Planning becomes an act of worship when we surrender our strategies to Him.
- Practical Application: Write down your goals and break them into actionable steps. Then commit those plans to God (Proverbs 16:3), trusting Him to guide and redirect as needed.
Planning also requires humility and flexibility. We may think we know the best path forward, but like Abram, we must remain open to God’s leading—even when it means adjusting or abandoning our plans entirely.
3. Pray: Seeking Divine Guidance
Prayer is the lifeline that connects our dreams and plans to God’s will. It transforms human ambition into divine alignment. Abram’s journey was marked by constant prayer—he built altars wherever he went as a way of seeking God’s presence and guidance.
- Biblical Insight: James 1:5 encourages us to ask for wisdom when we lack it. Through prayer, we invite God into every aspect of our journey.
- Reflection: Are you regularly praying over your dreams and plans? Prayer isn’t just about asking for blessings; it’s about surrendering control and seeking God’s direction.
Prayer also sustains us when the road becomes difficult or unclear. It reminds us that we are not walking alone; the Creator of the universe walks beside us, providing strength and clarity at every step.
4. Act: Stepping Out in Faith
Dreams and prayers must eventually lead to action. Abram didn’t just hear God’s call—he obeyed it. He left his homeland without knowing where he was going because he trusted in the One who had called him. Acting on faith often requires courage, especially when the outcome remains unseen.
- Biblical Insight: Hebrews 11:8 celebrates Abram’s obedience: “By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called… not knowing where he was going.” Faith demands movement; it compels us to take steps even when we don’t have all the answers.
- Encouragement: What step of faith can you take today? Perhaps it’s starting something new or letting go of something old—whatever it is, trust that obedience unlocks blessings beyond what you can imagine.
Acting on faith doesn’t mean the journey will be easy or free from challenges. But as we move forward in trust, we experience firsthand the faithfulness of God—a faithfulness that strengthens us for whatever lies ahead.
The Example of Abram
Abram’s life offers a powerful blueprint for living out these four spiritual disciplines:
- He dreamed of becoming a great nation as promised by God.
- He planned by gathering his family and resources for the journey.
- He prayed continually for guidance, building altars as acts of worship.
- He acted by stepping out in obedience, even when the destination was unknown.
Through his faithfulness, Abram became not only a recipient of God’s blessings but also a channel through which those blessings flowed to others—a fulfilment of Genesis 12:3.
A Call to Action
As you reflect on today’s devotional, consider how you can incorporate these four steps into your own life:
- Dream with boldness, trusting that God has placed those visions in your heart for a reason.
- Plan with wisdom, stewarding your resources while remaining open to His guidance.
- Pray with persistence, seeking His will above all else.
- Act with courage, stepping out in faith even when the path ahead is uncertain.
Like Abram, you may not see the full picture right now—but remember that every act of obedience brings you closer to fulfilling God’s purpose for your life.
Read More About This Devotional
Words of Wisdom: Planning with Purpose: Aligning Your Goals with God’s Will
Quote of the Day: “In everything you do, invite God the Father to be with you”
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for calling me into a life filled with purpose and promise.
Help me to dream dreams that align with Your heart.
Teach me to plan wisely while surrendering my steps to You.
Guide me through prayer so that my actions reflect Your will.
Grant me the courage to act boldly in faith, trusting that You are leading me toward something greater than I can imagine.
May my life glorify You and be a blessing to others.
In Jesus’ name, I pray,
Amen.
Scripture Reading for the Day
John 1 The New International Version
The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
John the Baptist Denies Being the Messiah
19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”
21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
John Testifies About Jesus
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”
John’s Disciples Follow Jesus
35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.
40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael
43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.
47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”
