"Will you go out without knowing?"

Today we sorted through books and games in preparation for moving. We got rid of some of them, probably not enough. We've packed 9 book boxes so far. (I'm sure I said "I love Baxter boxes." at least once.)

As we were sorting through books I came across My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. I am always challenged by that little book. At some point in the past I had put a squiggly circle around the date January 2nd. It is titled "Will you go out without knowing?" I read it to our family this afternoon. The scripture reference was Heb. 11:8 "He went out, not knowing where he was going." (That reference always makes me think of our Sunday School to the Extreme which Caleb remembers only too well...)

Anyway, I think that this devotional is the story of our lives. Here is what it says:

"Have you ever “gone out” in this way? If so, there is no logical answer possible when anyone asks you what you are doing. One of the most difficult questions to answer in Christian work is, “What do you expect to do?”You don’t know what you are going to do. The only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing. Continually examine your attitude toward God to see if you are willing to “go out” in every area of your life, trusting in God entirely. It is this attitude that keeps you in constant wonder, because you don’t know what God is going to do next. Each morning as you wake, there is a new opportunity to “go out,” building your confidence in God. “. . . do not worry about your life . . . nor about the body . . .” (Luke 12:22). In other words, don’t worry about the things that concerned you before you did “go out.”

"Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do— He reveals to you who He is. Do you believe in a miracle-working God, and will you “go out” in complete surrender to Him until you are not surprised one iota by anything He does?

"Believe God is always the God you know Him to be when you are nearest to Him. Then think how unnecessary and disrespectful worry is! Let the attitude of your life be a continual willingness to “go out” in dependence upon God, and your life will have a sacred and inexpressible charm about it that is very satisfying to Jesus. You must learn to “go out” through your convictions, creeds, or experiences until you come to the point in your faith where there is nothing between yourself and God."

I love the "constant wonder" in our lives. I don't worry (nearly as much now) when challenges come up because I know that I can trust God entirely. He has shown us who He is and that He is trustworthy. I don't know that we've ever completely "gone out" like Abraham did but I know that God is faithful and will take care of us no matter what.

Thanks God for the reminder of how trustworthy You are and that I don't need to know what the next step is, I just need to know and follow You.

The song going through my head is being sung by Bob Weston who used to come and share about his ministry at Seneca Community Church when I was growing up (see if you can hear his Jamaican accent in this song):
     If you know the Lord is helpin' you, what you gotta worry about?
     If you know the Lord is helpin' you, why don't you scream and shout?
   Ohhh, Glory, hallelujah, praise His name, Ev'ry day He's just the same
    If you know the Lord is helpin' you, what you gotta worry about?
    Me no worry, me no fret, 'cause Jesus never fail me yet.
    Me no worry, me no fret, 'cause Jesus never fail me yet.
    Ohhh, if  you know the Lord is helpin' you, what you gotta worry about?
     If you know the Lord is helpin' you, why don't you scream and shout?
   Ohhh, Glory, hallelujah, praise His name, Ev'ry day He's just the same
    If you know the Lord is helpin' you, what you gotta worry about?
That man sang the most amazing version of "His Eye is on the Sparrow" I've ever heard:
    I sing because I'm happy
    I sing because I'm free
   For His eye is on the sparrow
   And I know He watches me.