Leah Richardson

Have you ever experienced a season in life that literally everywhere you turn you see the same thing?  Right now Abraham, the Patriarch in the Bible, and I are becoming fast friends!  As the crowds in New Orleans hang out at Mardi Gras parades, I am hanging out in the book of Genesis…in the beginning God…

In my Bible study, my devotional book excerpts lately, and, my current bedside reading-  Anne Graham Lotz new book, The Magnificent Obsession, all give insight and example to the life of this man who simply believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness.  Soooo, I have been pondering, meditating and drawing comparisons on Abraham’s life.  May I share?…

Abraham’s life was about

going out

leaving behind

letting go

His decision to be radically obedient, even in the vast unknowns, led to a deeper trust, a deeper knowing…  He made mistakes and faltered in his journey, but he always returned to his Magnificent Obsession- His Lord.

I relate all to easily to the faltering along life’s path like my friend Abraham.  But each time I choose to return the One, the only One who can help me find my way again…my faith is fortified and my life filled, once again, with hope.

The Lord watched over each step of Abraham’s life.  With each step God

protected

provided

guided

befriended

and blessed beyond measure

Abraham was called out into the desert, Moses was called out into the wilderness.  And on July 9, 2007 as Jim and I drove away from all we knew and loved in Destin Florida, to step out in obedience to the voice of God and move to New Orleans, that, at the time, seemed like our wilderness… it was a

going out

leaving behind

letting go

How about you?  Is there a someone, an unhealthy relationship, or something, a secret sin or bad habit, or some place, as innocent as your comfort zone, that Jesus is asking you to do the same?  To go out, leave behind or let go…  We all experience “wilderness” times in our lives, but, like Abraham, we can choose how we spend that desert-dwelling season.  We can continue to mumble, grumble and complain wanting the “good part” of our old life back, or we can draw nearer and nearer to our Savior until He makes springs burst forth in our desert.  He can do that you know.

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

Psalm 46:10

Be quiet, stop running- physically, emotionally, mentally

and seek to truly know your helper in an intimate, fire-burning-in-your-belly kind of knowing

for the sovereign I AM is acting on your behalf beyond your natural borders- He has risen to meet your every need

Just around the corner there are 2 springs and 70 palms.  There is an oasis of refreshment and encouragement just around the next turn.  Although I can’t see them today, will I keep going in faith?  Will you?

I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2

Let these words nourish your soul and encourage you, because He is your help and His eyes are upon you, especially in the wilderness places of life.  But what are our eyes gazing upon?  The Lord told Abraham to look up.

Look up!

Are you looking down at your Blackberry or iphone for answers and replies?

Look up!

Are you looking eye-to-eye at the circumstances, impossible relationships, merry-go-rounds and rollercoasters?

Look up!

Or are you looking up to Heaven with a closed or questioning mind, hard heart or unforgiving soul?

Look up to Jesus, the one true living God

who knows you from the inside-out and longs to graciously

heal

deliver

provide

and bless you

even in the wildernesses of your life

Look up!

Look up right now for your helper is here

let us not stop looking up until we KNOW THAT HE IS TRULY GOD.

looking up to Jesus…   xo    leah

P.S. Thank you to 2 precious women who blogged about Interior Wisdom…Susan of Designing Your Dream Home (click here) and Paula of Two Ellie (click here).  If you are building or remodeling you definitely want to check out Susan’s website and Paula has a simply beautiful and creative blog.  Thank you Jesus for sweet sisters everywhere!