The Lord said to Abram,“Leave your land, your relatives, and your father’s home. Go to the land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation, I will bless you. I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. Genesis 12:1-2

Someone close to me always tells me, “Anything of great worth to you is going to take effort to get it.” Now that seems like an obvious phrase, but it doesn’t seem obvious in the middle of exerting all that effort.

We’d rather have things come easy, especially when they come from God, and even more especially if its something God has promised. If He has it for us, why not give it to us? Why must we wait, or worse, why must we work for it? I thought God specialized in Free!

Think about Abram. He received a promise of a great name, and becoming a great nation. And I believe God has put similar promises and dreams in our hearts when He created us!
The Bible says that “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Cor. 2:9)
This is true for YOU as much as it was for Abram! God has DREAM for YOU!

But God's dream for Abram wasn't going to happen until Abram did the work God requested to get him into position to receive that promise - "Leave your land." YOUR LAND.

Your land is the land you know, your comfort zone, your safety net, your familiar place of complacency. I don't know much about Haran, other than it was outside of present-day Iraq. But I do know that for Abram, and any of us:

Staying where you ARE is always easier than leaving there.

Its always easier to stay. Even if you are not happy with your current circumstances, remaining in your Haran is easier than leaving. Because going to the unknown is scary, it could be dangerous, it could require a lot more...FAITH!

And that's the point. To STAY where you are takes NO faith. That's why God is never satisfied with us staying in ANY place too long. He has MORE for you in the next season. And He's given you glimpses of that throughout your life, through your hopes and dreams.
But to receive what God has for you takes great faith, which is going to require you to leave your Haran and get to work, i.e. Take steps. Start the journey!

The question is - What's His dream for you WORTH to you?

During this fast - I am praying that you are getting a glimpse of what God has for you...His dream for you. But I am also challenging you to get ready to leave your Haran. Leaving your Big Mac or T.V. or land of complacency over these 3 weeks is just a symbolic preparation for the greater work that He will have for you to do to get to your dream's fulfillment. So don't just go BACK to that thing or food after we're done. Seek what more the Lord has for you, it' worth it!

And "Anything of great worth to you is going to take effort to get it."
But when you get there - you will be blessed, and you will be a blessing.

Faith-filled Next Steps:
1. Where have you "stayed too long" in your life so that you have become complacent and comfortable?

Is it a lifestyle, a pattern, a job or even a relationship?
(These are ruts or distractions that take up your time and energy, keeping you from other things God may have.)

2. Describe some of the hopes and dreams God has put in your heart for your life over time that you may have let slip away with time.

3. List certain steps you could take in this next season that could move you away from time-stealing distractions and lifestyles and move you toward experiencing His dreams for you that could create a powerful new life of faith in Jesus.

4. Pray that Jesus can give you the courage to leave certain things to step into this new season, and then Share these with someone and ask them to pray for you to take those steps!

Pastor Mike

Day Eleven