In Genesis 15:1, God tells Abram, “Do not be afraid…I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
Today, I believe the Lord wants to encourage us with this message.
God reminds us that He is present in our moments of contradiction, just as He was with Abram (Abraham). Even when our dreams and prophecies seem far from reality—and all we see are our limits, He says:
“Bring that limitation to Me and I will turn it into a testimony of faith.”
1. He Initiates a New Faith Encounter
When God is about to move, He often shows up unexpectedly.
And then, He draws our attention to an aspect of His nature or ability—it may even be one we have never considered deeply before.
- When this happens, we see Him in a new light, as the answer to our need!
“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” The word translated “great”, (raba, Strong’s H7235)—means to become numerous, multiply, and increase.
Paul echoes this, in a verse we know well:
- “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Eph 3:20 NKJV)
So, this word wasn’t just for Abram [1]—it applies to you and me!
It expresses the nature of God, and who He wants to be for us: our breakthrough, strength, and ultimate reward.
2. God Begins a Conversation With You
In response, Abram questions the Lord:
“O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son?” (Gen 15:2, NLT)
It’s interesting (and very relatable) that Abram doesn’t immediately respond with enthusiasm.
There’s no “hallelujah” or “amen”!
Instead, he expresses his grievance.
And no wonder.
God promised earlier that Abram would become a great nation—and that his descendants would be innumerable. (Gen 12:2, 16).
- But so far, Abram has not seen even one.
The Lord wants you to know there is power in your honest questions, and that He desires to answer them.
Your objections are not a denial of faith, but rather, they are a step towards it.
Now, the Lord responds to Abram,
“No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.” (Gen 15:4, NLT)
Prophetic Vision of a Snow Globe
While praying for someone recently, I saw their life experiences and dreams poured out before the Lord, in a gesture of surrender. It was like emptying a backpack of all they had carried.
Then, I saw Jesus reach into this pile and pull out a snow globe. That’s a small glass ornament, such as you see at Christmas—you shake them, and tiny pieces of glitter rush around the inside.
It appeared to be a “souvenir” from the past that was tucked away. It may have represented a dream once held—a future they desired.
And the Lord shook it and as He did, the glittery substance was stirred up.
Suddenly, that globe’s glass broke, and its abundance exploded into reality.
And out into the atmosphere.
The Shaking and the Glory
I believe this picture is for many of us! The Lord wants us to know abundance is on the inside of us.
And even though it has been contained, the potential is there.
It’s a principle in God:
First comes the shaking and then comes the glory! So if you have experienced instability lately, be encouraged.
Remember what Jesus said, “…pressed down, shaken together, running over” (Luke 6:38)
There’s a Divine order—in the giving, the pressing, the shaking, and the overflow.
3. God Gives You a Faith-filled Vision
“Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.”
And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” (Gen 15:5)
Like Abram, some of us may have a legacy problem.
We want to leave our mark, our call is to influence, but we face challenges, obstacles, and impossibilities.
We have a dream for our family.
- God-given dreams of influence, prayers
- Prayer requests we are awaiting an answer for
He wants us to see as He does—beyond our limits, a vision of an abundant life.
But more than that—to see our abundant God.
One of our pastors shared this recently:
“God wants to take us outside the walls of our limitations, to perceive His abundance.” [2]
And it struck me:
God took Abram outside of the tent.
4. He Illuminates Your Understanding
And he [Abram] believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” (Gen 15:1-6, NKJV)
Abram heard, saw, and believed.
And that faith was so valuable that God accounted it—calculated, and reckoned it—for righteousness. (Strong’s H2803)
Remember God said,
“I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
The Hebrew word translated “reward” (H7939) means “payment of contract, wages, salary, compensation, benefit, hire.”
Now as you have believed, the Lord says, I have calculated it up:
- Nothing is left owing
- And all that benefit, all of My abundance that you see, is now yours. [3]
In Christ, there is no barrier, and the abundance of God, that is in God, flows freely to us. “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:19, NKJV)
The Master Key to Faith
The writer to the Hebrews later wrote:
“By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.” (Hebrews 11:11, NKJV
How did the miracle happen?
Because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
This is the key to faith!
His response to our questions is not, “Here is your breakthrough.”
But rather, “Behold me, and gaze upon My ability. I AM your breakthrough and all you need. See Me, I am your reward.”
Eventually, we realize that faith comes—not in an event or outcome
But in a Person.
In our abundant God and loving Father.
Notes
[1] God renamed Abram “Abraham” in Genesis 17:5
[2] Dr. Clayton Coombs, Planetshakers, March 17th, 2024
[3] Later, Paul explains salvation from this passage in his letter to the Romans: (Romans 4:3-5) i.e., when we believe in Christ, we have a right standing with God and nothing between us.
Leave a Comment
Have you been encouraged by this message about faith, and God turning our limitations into a testimony? Which insights speak most to you (this has especially impacted me in the light of the recent word about abundance) To leave a comment or prayer request use the comments box below.
Related Posts:
- Abundance: How to Live an Abundant Life With God
- Abundance: How to See Your Provision From Heaven’s Viewpoint
- How to Pray with Greater Faith: The Master Key
- Vision: How to See the Bigger Picture God is Revealing
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Helen Calder is a prophetic minister and writer, and founder of Enliven Ministries. Helen has a unique gift of equipping in prophetic ministry and prayer. She is known for Enliven Blog (est. 2009), an online resource that reaches thousands of people globally.
Thank you again for always blessing us with words from God’s heart to his people. Please keep my family in prayer. We need miracles.
Thank you so much Helen for this timely and much needed encouragement… I desperately need a miracle from the Lord.
I am hosting a Prophetic High Tea on the 25th May as instructed by the Lord here in South Africa, Hennenman. At this stage I only have 2 people registered.
Amen and Amen! Thank you Helen, really God is my greatest reward. May God bless you and continue to use you in glory of His Name!
Dear Helen,
Thank you so much for your timely message.
My wife of 36 yrs went to be with the Lord last year.
This year I had a heart attack and under recovery mode currently.
Because of these events , I began to looked ahead seeing through my limitations to the days ahead. Thank you for reminding me that God is not limited by my perceived limitations. He is above all. Yes, need to come outside the tent and behold Him. God Bless
Dear Helen,
Your blog is a blessing to all who need God’s word promptly. I was blessed, and His promise manifested in me. God, you are so awesome. Bless Helen for reaching out to all your children who trust you alone.
God bless you and your family with more grace and overflowing anointing.
Kind Regards,
Noemi
Thank you a million times for this word. Each time I receive your posts my life is encouraged and my faith is lifted to were the word of God becomes a reality to me.