Counting Stars In An Empty Sky By Michael YoussefSample

As you look closely at Abraham’s journey of faith, you see that it was not all smooth sailing. Abraham experienced doubt and fear. He battled his own inner demons. Even though God had called Abraham from Ur to the land of Canaan, he first settled in Harran—a worldly, exciting city, the ancient world’s version of Las Vegas. He was a “sheep gone astray,” as the prophet Isaiah reminds us we all are. Abraham was often tempted to give up his faith in God, yet God said, “Keep counting stars, Abraham! Keep trusting in My promises.” 

Like Abraham, every believer, every follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, has been called by God to come out of the old country of sin and go to a new land, a promised land. We were all born in the country of sin. We were born in a state of rebellion, with hearts that were indifferent and hostile to God. Our pre-Christian lives were our Ur of the Chaldeans. 

God called to us and said, “Come and follow Me. Leave your life of sin, turn away from your old ways. Let go of your selfishness and stubbornness and rebellion, your confusion and lostness, and start walking in the way I will show you. I will forgive your sins because of the shed blood of My Son, Jesus Christ. I will heal your wounded soul. That is My promise to you, more certain and reliable than the stars in the sky. From now on, I want you to count the stars, because the blessings I will shower upon your life will be more numerous than the stars in the heavens.” 

But we must choose to walk with God to the land He has shown us. Yes, you can choose to go your own way—to settle in Harran after God has called you to Canaan. If you go your own way, you’ll find there is no blessing at the end of the path. But if you take His hand and go where He leads you, He will bless you in ways you can’t begin to imagine. 

What is God calling you to today—in relationships, career, thought life? What would it look like to follow Him rather than go your own way?