By: Viv White
Some people look at the stars or horoscopes or consult fortune-tellers and palm readers to “see” their future. However trustworthy these methods seem, they cannot help in the quest of the unknown. The only way in which we can be filled with confidence in our daily lives and with the future is by believing in the promises of God.
People make promises on a daily basis. We are also accustomed to seeing them made and broken. Anyone who has lived for a number of years would certainly never lay claim to having kept every promise made. There are many reasons why this is true. Sometimes we forget, sometimes we are negligent, and sometimes it may be due to circumstances beyond our control.
Now a promise is of no more value than is the ability of the one who makes it to carry through. It also includes willingness to do so. God did carry through with Abraham. Paul points out in Galatians 3:16, that it was through Christ God intended to fulfill the promise to Abraham. Also in Acts 13:32-33, the Apostle says:
Acts 13:32-33
(32) And we declare to you glad tidings — that promise which was made to the fathers. (33) God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus.
God has given us many promises that offer hope in every situation. Although His will for us is abundant life and His plan is to prosper us, there will be times when we will go through trials or experience trying circumstances. When we face these situations we are to look to God’s Word for answers to the problems, Jude 1:20-25 as an example. It is important to speak the promises of God.
During my studies of the Psalms of David I noticed a pattern – He praises God, he reminds God of His promises, he asks God for help, and he praises God more.
Psalm 27:1-3
(1) The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? (2) When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell. (3) Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident.
Seek after His presence, practice the presence of God, He is always there.
Psalm 27:9-11
(9) Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. (10) When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the LORD will take care of me. (11) Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
Have confidence that He will teach you and guide you.
Psalm 27:12-
(12) Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence. (13) I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. (14) Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!
Whatever the trouble afflicting us, whether it is at the workplace, co-workers, or mental troubles, or anything, God is our light and our salvation; we don’t need to fear anything, His is our strength. When we call and trust on God, He hears, and He promised to put us on solid ground and to establish our steps.
Psalm 40:1-4
(1) I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. (2) He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. (3) He has put a new song in my mouth — Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD. (4) Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
Who delivers? God does. Who establishes our way? God does. Who puts the song and praise in our hearts? God does. Many shall see His deliverance, reverence God and trust in Him. Blessed is the man that makes the LORD God his trust. We cannot trust in our own strength. We all have natural abilities, but God is still our strength and help.
Isaiah 40:28-
(28) Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. (29) He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. (30) Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, (31) But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
He has promised to supply every need we have. It is written:
Phillipians 4:19.
(19) and my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Now notice, God has obligated Himself only to the extent of our needs. That would include food, clothing, shelter, companionship, love, and salvation thru Jesus Christ. It would not include the multiplicity of luxuries that we have come to think of as needs.
Jesus Christ was flesh and blood just like us, he was confronted with fears and doubt. But his confidence was so unwaveringly solid that he never questioned God’s will and knew that He would always be there for him.
Take the promises of God’s Word that are written to you and make them personal, then speak them out loud. When negatives pop-up be ready with the Word of God to address them!
We have to put forth the effort to renew our minds to God’s Word in order to see the results. We can do it! God said it is available so it must be!
We are to pray for each other for knowledge and revelation that we may know the promises what we have received of God – “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.” That’s 1 John 5:4.
Trust in the promises of God. Help each other to persevere and endure ….
James 5:11
(11) Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord — that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
To God our, Heavenly Father, be praise and glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.