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You Are Being Tested

You Are Being Tested

Posted on January 18, 2021 Posted By: KBCF Categories: Devotion

Note: This devotional is taken from the 2021 Prayer and Fasting Week.

Day 1

First Mountain: Mount Moriah

Start to Connect

The challenges we faced last year continue in 2021; they define what we now call as the new normal. Recall the instances when you felt that you are being tested.

Truth to Ponder

Genesis 22:1-3

  1. Abraham was unaware that God is testing him (v.1). Would it make a difference if you face hardships and struggles with the conviction that God is testing you?
  2. When the Lord called, what was Abraham’s response (v.1)? What does his response imply?
  3. What did the Lord ask Abraham to do? (It should be taken into consideration that child offering as a part of worship is not rare in ancient near east.) What do you think is going on in Abraham’s mind? One famous theologian expressed what Abraham is going through as “heavy cloud of unknowing.” What is your reaction?
  4. How would you describe Abraham’s response (v.3)? Did he seem to waiver in his obedience?

Examine the Word

  1. Describe an instance when you faced a trial in your life.

How did you fare? What were the lessons you learned?

2. Abraham’s response to God is “Here am I.” Are you fully present to God in your prayers? Are you fully present to God in your worship?

3. Perhaps what the Lord asked Abraham to do makes sense during his time, but it is still mind-boggling if not confusing (considering that he waited for many years, in fact “hoping against hope” for him to have a child with his old, long-past-child bearing wife, Sarah). What more now? Was there an instance that the Lord is asking you or leading to do things or be in a position that you don’t understand?

4. Abraham held on to God despite the “heavy cloud of unknowing” that he is going through. Read v.3 again, imagining how Abraham is going through all the preparation for the worship God is asking him to do. What is your reaction?

Hebrews 11:19 explains Abraham’s faith. What is your reaction?

Do you have a resurrection faith like Abraham?

Personal Application

1. Being tested does not mean that you fully understand what you are going through. What lessons have you learned from this story of Abraham that you wish to apply to your life now?

2. What steps would you take to be really present to God in your prayer and worship? (i.e., turning off or putting to silent mode your cell phone!)

3. What steps would you take to know more about resurrection faith like Abraham? (c.f. Hebrews 6:2 lists resurrection from the dead as a basic Christian teaching!)

4. Turn your reactions and your insights in our study today into prayer to God.

Prayer Items

 NATION

a. Inter-Agency Task Force for Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, IATF-EID and C-19 National Task Force, NTF

Pray: God to give wisdom to enable IATF as policy-making body and NTF as operational command to assess, monitor, contain, control and prevent the spread of C-19, other epidemics. Pray for IATF Head, DOH Sec. Duque and NTF Head, DND Sec. D. Lorenzana.

b. Philippine National Vaccine Roadmap

Pray: for the Chief Implementer and Vaccine Czar Sec. C. Galvez Jr. to effectively develop and implement country-wide vaccination against C-19

c. T3 Group (Test, Trace, Treat) — private sector-led initiative to support the government in the fight against C-19. Pray for members from private sector, NGOs and Business groups to sustain construction of isolation centers, donating test equipment/PPEs; define and implement supply chain management including technology and communication needs to support roll-out and deployment of vaccines.

d. DOF/DBM: to be able to provide funds for buying vaccines and finance government’s activities for economy to recover.

e. NEDA: to be able to make short and long-term macro-economic forecasting and socio-economic policies analyses and research and provide high-level advice to policy makers in Congress and the Executive Branch for quick economic recovery of the Philippines.

 FAMILY/HEALTH/PERSONAL BREAKTHROUGHS

The Holy Spirit to enable KBCF to knit and strengthen families during this pandemic, that Christ-centered relationships be the priority in every home: parents, children, husband and wife, other family members.

 CHURCH/MINISTRIES

The Holy Spirit to enable KBCF to knit and strengthen Discipleship groups during this pandemic via Virtual discipleship groups (1-on-1 and group online meetings).

 MISSIONS/EVANGELISM

Pray that the Hoy Spirit will enable KBCF to create opportunities for Evangelism and Discipleship by personal witness, helping other grow in their faith through online social media platforms.