January 6th
Today’s Reading
Genesis 15, 16, 17 & Luke 6
⸻
Scripture Focus
“Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.’”
Genesis 15:1 NLT
“And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
Genesis 15:6 NLT
“So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. (This happened ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan.)”
Genesis 16:3 NLT
“And the angel also said, ‘You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears’), for the Lord has heard your cry of distress.’”
Genesis 16:11 NLT
“So that well was named Beer-lahai-roi (which means ‘well of the Living One who sees me’)……”
Genesis 16:14 NLT
“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘I am El-Shaddai—God Almighty. Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life.’”
Genesis 17:1 NLT
“What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations. I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them! Then God said to Abraham, ‘Your responsibility is to obey the terms of the covenant. You and all your descendants have this continual responsibility.’”
Genesis 17:5–6, 9 NLT
⸻
Summary
I love the book of Genesis.
We really start to learn so much about God—not just who He is, but how He works with people over time.
First, I see that God loves to give promises. He speaks hope into impossible situations and invites us to trust Him for what only He can do. But it’s not the only message here there’s so much to learn about God it’s not just the history which that is important but it’s us learning about God and faith true faith.
Abraham is not just the father of many nations he is the father of all who put their faith in God in Jesus.
⸻
What We Learn About God
•God is a Promise-Maker – He speaks hope into impossible situations and initiates covenant with His people.
•God is a Promise-Keeper – What He declares, He fulfills, even when fulfillment takes time.
•God is Protector – “Do not be afraid… I will protect you” (Gen. 15:1).
•God is a Rewarder – He Himself is Abram’s great reward, not just what He gives.
•God Counts Faith as Righteousness – God responds to belief, not perfection (Gen. 15:6).
•God Is Patient – He does not abandon Abram and Sarai when they act in the flesh.
•God Sees the Afflicted – He sees Hagar in her distress (Beer-lahai-roi).
•God Hears Cries – Ishmael’s name reminds us that God hears suffering and sorrow.
•God Is Compassionate – He meets people personally, even those pushed aside by others.
•God Is Almighty (El-Shaddai) – Nothing is too hard for Him; age, weakness, and impossibility do not limit Him.
•God Is Covenant-Keeping – His promises are eternal and extend beyond one generation.
•God Is Identity-Giving – He renames Abram to Abraham, defining him by promise, not circumstance.
•God Desires Obedience – Covenant relationship includes a call to walk faithfully with Him.
•God Works Despite Human Failure – Human mistakes do not derail God’s redemptive plan.
⸻
And these Hebrew words expand our understanding…
Hebrew Words That Deepen the Meaning
•אָמַן (’āman) – “believed / trusted”
(Genesis 15:6)
This word means to lean into, to rely on, to be firmly established. Abram didn’t just agree with God—he placed the full weight of his life on God’s promise.
•חָשַׁב (ḥāshav) – “counted / credited”
(Genesis 15:6)
A bookkeeping term meaning to reckon or account. God credited righteousness to Abram’s account—not because of works, but because of faith.
•שַׁדַּי (Shaddai) – “Almighty”
(Genesis 17:1)
El-Shaddai speaks of God as all-sufficient and all-powerful—the One who supplies what is lacking and accomplishes what is impossible.
•שָׁמַע (shāmaʿ) – “heard”
(Genesis 16:11 – Ishmael)
Means to hear with attention and response. God doesn’t just hear sound—He hears with care and action.
•רָאָה (rā’āh) – “to see”
(Genesis 16:13–14)
Used in Beer-lahai-roi, meaning “the Living One who sees me.” God sees deeply, personally, and compassionately.
•בְּרִית (berith) – “covenant”
(Genesis 15 & 17)
More than a promise—it is a binding, relational commitment initiated and upheld by God Himself.
•אַבְרָהָם (Avraham) – “father of many”
(Genesis 17:5)
God changes Abram’s name before the promise is fulfilled—identity is established by God’s word, not visible evidence.
⸻
Lesson for Me
Sisters, this portion of Genesis reminds me that believing God is not just about agreeing with what He says—it’s about trusting Him enough to wait. Abraham believed God, and God counted his faith as righteousness, yet even in true faith there were moments of impatience and fleshly decisions. I see myself here. I love God’s promises, but sometimes waiting on His timing is hard, and I’m tempted to step in and “help” Him. These chapters remind me that God does not need my solutions—He desires my trust. Even when we move ahead of Him, He remains faithful. He sees us, He hears us, and He continues to work out His promises according to His perfect plan. God defines who we are before we ever see the fulfillment, and He calls us to walk in obedience, not out of fear, but out of faith in who He is. This encourages my heart to slow down, to trust more deeply, and to rest in the truth that El-Shaddai is more than able to accomplish what He has promised—without me rushing the process.
⸻
Application — Examining My Heart
1.Am I trusting God’s promises fully, or am I trying to help Him by taking matters into my own hands when waiting feels hard?
2.Where has impatience, fear, or doubt influenced my decisions instead of faith in God’s timing and power?
3.Am I allowing God to define my identity by His Word and promises, or am I defining myself by what I see—or don’t yet see—in my circumstances?
⸻
Prayer 🙏
Lord,
You are El-Shaddai—God Almighty.
Help me trust You fully, even when I cannot see how Your promises will unfold.
Teach me to wait with faith and not rush ahead in fear.
Strengthen my heart to believe You, rely on You, and obey You.
Thank You for seeing me, hearing me, and remaining faithful even when I struggle.
I choose to trust You today.
Amen.
⸻
Journaling Reminder
Sit quietly and listen to the Lord for what He has to say to your heart.
Write down everything He speaks to your mind and your heart.
Keep writing until your heart is at peace and your thoughts pause.
Then reread what you have written.
Begin your journal with:
“My little lamb…”
or
“Dear daughter…”
Today’s Reading
Genesis 15, 16, 17 & Luke 6
⸻
Scripture Focus
“Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.’”
Genesis 15:1 NLT
“And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
Genesis 15:6 NLT
“So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. (This happened ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan.)”
Genesis 16:3 NLT
“And the angel also said, ‘You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears’), for the Lord has heard your cry of distress.’”
Genesis 16:11 NLT
“So that well was named Beer-lahai-roi (which means ‘well of the Living One who sees me’)……”
Genesis 16:14 NLT
“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘I am El-Shaddai—God Almighty. Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life.’”
Genesis 17:1 NLT
“What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations. I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them! Then God said to Abraham, ‘Your responsibility is to obey the terms of the covenant. You and all your descendants have this continual responsibility.’”
Genesis 17:5–6, 9 NLT
⸻
Summary
I love the book of Genesis.
We really start to learn so much about God—not just who He is, but how He works with people over time.
First, I see that God loves to give promises. He speaks hope into impossible situations and invites us to trust Him for what only He can do. But it’s not the only message here there’s so much to learn about God it’s not just the history which that is important but it’s us learning about God and faith true faith.
Abraham is not just the father of many nations he is the father of all who put their faith in God in Jesus.
⸻
What We Learn About God
•God is a Promise-Maker – He speaks hope into impossible situations and initiates covenant with His people.
•God is a Promise-Keeper – What He declares, He fulfills, even when fulfillment takes time.
•God is Protector – “Do not be afraid… I will protect you” (Gen. 15:1).
•God is a Rewarder – He Himself is Abram’s great reward, not just what He gives.
•God Counts Faith as Righteousness – God responds to belief, not perfection (Gen. 15:6).
•God Is Patient – He does not abandon Abram and Sarai when they act in the flesh.
•God Sees the Afflicted – He sees Hagar in her distress (Beer-lahai-roi).
•God Hears Cries – Ishmael’s name reminds us that God hears suffering and sorrow.
•God Is Compassionate – He meets people personally, even those pushed aside by others.
•God Is Almighty (El-Shaddai) – Nothing is too hard for Him; age, weakness, and impossibility do not limit Him.
•God Is Covenant-Keeping – His promises are eternal and extend beyond one generation.
•God Is Identity-Giving – He renames Abram to Abraham, defining him by promise, not circumstance.
•God Desires Obedience – Covenant relationship includes a call to walk faithfully with Him.
•God Works Despite Human Failure – Human mistakes do not derail God’s redemptive plan.
⸻
And these Hebrew words expand our understanding…
Hebrew Words That Deepen the Meaning
•אָמַן (’āman) – “believed / trusted”
(Genesis 15:6)
This word means to lean into, to rely on, to be firmly established. Abram didn’t just agree with God—he placed the full weight of his life on God’s promise.
•חָשַׁב (ḥāshav) – “counted / credited”
(Genesis 15:6)
A bookkeeping term meaning to reckon or account. God credited righteousness to Abram’s account—not because of works, but because of faith.
•שַׁדַּי (Shaddai) – “Almighty”
(Genesis 17:1)
El-Shaddai speaks of God as all-sufficient and all-powerful—the One who supplies what is lacking and accomplishes what is impossible.
•שָׁמַע (shāmaʿ) – “heard”
(Genesis 16:11 – Ishmael)
Means to hear with attention and response. God doesn’t just hear sound—He hears with care and action.
•רָאָה (rā’āh) – “to see”
(Genesis 16:13–14)
Used in Beer-lahai-roi, meaning “the Living One who sees me.” God sees deeply, personally, and compassionately.
•בְּרִית (berith) – “covenant”
(Genesis 15 & 17)
More than a promise—it is a binding, relational commitment initiated and upheld by God Himself.
•אַבְרָהָם (Avraham) – “father of many”
(Genesis 17:5)
God changes Abram’s name before the promise is fulfilled—identity is established by God’s word, not visible evidence.
⸻
Lesson for Me
Sisters, this portion of Genesis reminds me that believing God is not just about agreeing with what He says—it’s about trusting Him enough to wait. Abraham believed God, and God counted his faith as righteousness, yet even in true faith there were moments of impatience and fleshly decisions. I see myself here. I love God’s promises, but sometimes waiting on His timing is hard, and I’m tempted to step in and “help” Him. These chapters remind me that God does not need my solutions—He desires my trust. Even when we move ahead of Him, He remains faithful. He sees us, He hears us, and He continues to work out His promises according to His perfect plan. God defines who we are before we ever see the fulfillment, and He calls us to walk in obedience, not out of fear, but out of faith in who He is. This encourages my heart to slow down, to trust more deeply, and to rest in the truth that El-Shaddai is more than able to accomplish what He has promised—without me rushing the process.
⸻
Application — Examining My Heart
1.Am I trusting God’s promises fully, or am I trying to help Him by taking matters into my own hands when waiting feels hard?
2.Where has impatience, fear, or doubt influenced my decisions instead of faith in God’s timing and power?
3.Am I allowing God to define my identity by His Word and promises, or am I defining myself by what I see—or don’t yet see—in my circumstances?
⸻
Prayer 🙏
Lord,
You are El-Shaddai—God Almighty.
Help me trust You fully, even when I cannot see how Your promises will unfold.
Teach me to wait with faith and not rush ahead in fear.
Strengthen my heart to believe You, rely on You, and obey You.
Thank You for seeing me, hearing me, and remaining faithful even when I struggle.
I choose to trust You today.
Amen.
⸻
Journaling Reminder
Sit quietly and listen to the Lord for what He has to say to your heart.
Write down everything He speaks to your mind and your heart.
Keep writing until your heart is at peace and your thoughts pause.
Then reread what you have written.
Begin your journal with:
“My little lamb…”
or
“Dear daughter…”
Type your new text here.