Bible in One Year: Sunday, December 13, 2009 (Rev 10 - Rev 12) Memorise: "Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him" (Gen 26:12) Read: Genesis 26:12-16 12 ¶ Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him. 13 And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: 14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him. 15 For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth. 16 And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we. Abraham is an example of someone who is outstanding in faith, obedience and sacrifice. Beyond these, he was outstanding in prayer (Gen 18:16-33). He engaged in serious intercession for a city and in particular a family, not to be consumed in a fiery judgement. These days, many believers beat their chests whenever they pray for an hour. Some even cite Jesus' comment to His disciples in the Garden at Gethsemane, "Can't you watch with me for one hour?" As a result, they have taken praying for one hour as the ultimate. No! It is the minimum. When you go into His presence, do not rush in and rush out. Stay there. That is where your life and destiny would be given meaning. That is where your value and how you fit into God's end time plan are revealed. It is the mediocre who takes the minimum praying time as maximum. Another fact about being outstanding is that it runs in the family. In other words, it is infectious, although not biologically hereditary. This means, the level of faith, obedience and sacrifice you exhibit will have some effect on your children. Where you stop can become their starting point. If you would not be outstanding for your own sake, do it for their sake. There are many who have allowed the mediocrity, poverty and severe limitations of their parents to stop them from becoming outstanding. You shall be outstanding! In the family of faith, it is normal to be outstanding. For instance, Isaac (the seed of Abraham just like you are Abraham's seed), was outstanding both in faith and obedience. In Genesis 26:1-6, there was famine in the land so Isaac wanted to run but God asked him to stay. And he obeyed. When the organization where some Christians work run into troubled waters and therefore find it difficult to pay their salaries regularly, some immediately go to the next available firm even when God has told them to stay. God expects you to first find out what your next step should be in times of famine. If He says 'Leave where you are', don't stay. But if He says 'Stay', then you have no business leaving. Some ministers and pastors have had to resign their appointments or leave their places of assignment when famine and difficulty set in. Unfortunately for such people, that situation of famine or extreme difficulty may really be heralding their greatest breakthrough like Isaac eventually discovered. Have you given up because of famine? Go back to your place of assignment or you may miss your breakthrough for good! ACTION POINT: Some stop trying while a few inches away from their breakthrough. Father, grant me grace to persist until I enter my breakthrough.