July 21

After Lot had departed, the LORD said to Abram, “Now lift up your eyes from the place where you are, and look to the north and south and east and west, — Gen 13:14 BSB

Let us now reflect on the blessedness of faith. Our own sense of smallness and inadequacy often becomes a burden. We may feel too insignificant to claim God’s mighty promises. We say, "If only I were sure I was in God’s will, I could trust Him." But this mindset is flawed. Self-consciousness is a great hindrance to faith. We must fix our eyes on Him alone—not on our faith itself, but on the Author of our faith. It’s not enough to glance at Him—we must gaze with unwavering determination, not hesitating or negotiating with doubt, and without fear. Fear nearly guarantees failure.

Those who have crossed the Alps know how dangerous the mountain passes can be—how narrow the paths and how steep the cliffs. To ensure safety, you must look up continually. One glance down into the abyss could be fatal. In the same way, to climb the heights of faith, we must look up. Look up. Take your eyes off yourself, your circumstances, and even the means at hand. Fix them on the Great Giver.