Stay the Course

by Fred Alcain on January 06, 2023

Scripture

"Then the Lord said to him, 'Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there. ' " (Genesis 15:13)

Observation

God continues to build on His promises to Abraham; even though Abraham laughs at a few of them!    What’s interesting in this promise is that God clearly lays it out that this promise is gonna take a while to play out.  This promise won’t be all joy and smiles; there’s gonna be enslavement and mistreatment.  This promise won’t even be a promise that Abraham will experience first hand; although he will die in peace.

Sometimes God’s promises won’t play out the way we want them to.  Sometimes the promises is for a generation to come and our only responsibility is to humbly and graciously play our part. That’s what Abraham did.  He stayed the course knowing full well that the fulfillment of the promise was for another generation.

Application

So how do I keep that same mindset?  How do I stay the course knowing that I may not eat the fruit of the promised land?

  1. Remember the promises fulfilled.  Too many to count.  When I remember them I remember that God is faithful to fulfill.  If He did it then, He’ll do it again.
  2. Know my role for the season.  It’s the LeBron factor.  Need a point guard, I’ll do it and go win a championship.  Need a center, I’ll bully with the big boys and pull the team out of the slump.  When I know my role for the season I die to my desires and elevate the team.  Team first, and whether we win now or win later, WE WIN.
  3. Don’t be overwhelmed by the dream.  What I mean here is that I can’t let the enormity of the promise discount my effort or belief.  If God says it, He’ll do it.  My mind is to finite to fully comprehend the greatest of God and my heart is too fragile to weather the storms of the challenges.  But, that’s only when I go at it alone.  I don’t need to do alone.  God promised it and He will carry me through.

Prayer

Jesus, I love You.  Thank you for your promise.  I pray these 3 points aren’t just 3 steps for a journal, but 3 convictions that set deep into my heart as I stay the course with my hope set on You.  Amen

About the Author

Fred Alcain

As the Extension Pastor at New Hope Oahu, Fred’s focus is on taking New Hope’s creative arts and musical presentations out into the community as the point of the spear of Evangelism.

On staff at New Hope since 2005, Fred also oversees and shepherds our Worship and Music teams alongside his wife, Jana. With Bachelor of Arts degrees in Music Education and Hawaiian Studies from The University of Hawaii at Manoa and a Professional Degree in Music Performance from the Los Angeles Music Academy, Fred also humbly serves on the Board of Directors at New Hope Christian School and 24/7 Danceforce.

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