This week Kelly Lawson is sharing our devotional thoughts. Be sure to stop by the contributors page to learn more about her.

I’ve been teaching stories from the life of Abraham to my elementary students the last two months. I find that studying to teach Bible stories involves much more than simply reading through them – even multiple times. I’m grateful for the lessons, both big and small, that the Lord teaches me as I prepare to teach my students.

Abraham was a man of great faith, and the Bible says that he believed God (James 2:23). I found myself feeling somewhat judgmental of Abraham and Sarah as they deviated from trusting completely in the promise God made to make them into a great nation. They made several terrible choices when they tried to help God fulfill His promise to them. I was quickly humbled by the Holy Spirit as He prompted me to remember many times in life when I failed to completely trust the promises of God to me. I remembered times when I made plans to try and work things out without waiting on God to work the situation out in His timing and way. 

Philippians 1:6 says, “ Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” This is one of my favorite promises. God will complete His good work in me that He started at my salvation. He can accomplish His good work without my finagling of circumstances. He promises He will never leave or abandon His work in me.

My reliance must be on God, evidenced by submitting my life to the authority of the Scriptures, repenting of my sins, and sometimes denying my own desires to wait on God’s will and work. If you know Jesus as your Savior, God began His good work in you. He promises to continue His work in you until Christ returns when He will finally complete that work. Rest in this precious promise and live in God’s perfect peace.