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Genesis 22:13-14

And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

When we relent…God provides. When we remove our dreams, God inserts his. When we surrender our will, God implants his. When we relent, “The Lord will provide.” That’s what Abraham discovered.

God had great things to do, so he tested Abraham to confirm that he was the man to do them. When Abraham relented…to the point of sacrificing his son…God provided. The real sacrifice God wanted was Abraham’s heart. The ritual sacrifice was caught in the thicket.

Let’s be honest. The hard part about relenting is believing that God will provide. I can’t give up what I want if I don’t believe God will give me what I need. I can’t surrender my will if I don’t believe God’s will is better. Do I really want to get out of the trap of disobedience if I don’t believe obedience is more satisfying? To relent means to relinquish our personal hopes and dreams. But that does not mean we limp through the rest of our lives with a big hole in our hearts. It means we finally live fulfilled with a whole heart…filled with the One who always provides exactly what we need.

Father, help us to relent. Help us to surrender anything…everything…standing between you and us. Help us to believe that you will provide. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

Today’s Journey Message:

Can a Christian Suffer Depression?