Standing On The Promises Of A Faithful Promise Keeper!

Promises are as reliable as the one who makes them. If we could be honest for a moment, I can safely say that we all have been disappointed from time to time with people who say one thing and do another. Yes, people will disappoint you! That is a fact of life! But!!! Not so with God! The world in which we live is constantly changing,, promising everything but delivering nothing but detriment to the soul of man. Life is full of increasing  uncertainty, difficulty, frustration, fears and insecurities.  Life has proven to all of us that much of what we thought we could  stand on has proven to be an unsure footing that is not dependable nor predictable. But that is not the case with God for He who promised is faithful. 

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23 

God has made many promises to His people and He never forgets any of them. He is never too busy and  He can not lie for Scripture declares in numbers 23:19–God is not a man that he should lie, nor a son of man that he should repent. Has he said and will he not do it? Or has he spoken and will He not make it good? Since God is not a man and He  can not  lie, God can be trusted.

Standing on the promises of God! What does it mean to stand on the promises of God?  Standing on the promises of God  is the confident assurance in what God has promised us. The faith to believe that what we hope for is going to happen because He who has promised us is faithful and more than able to do just what He says He will do.

If there ever was a time that we as Christians must stand firm on God’s Word like never before, the time is now! We can and must build our lives on the promises of God’s Word  for we are His recipients of these great and precious promises.  We must  hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering for He who promise us is a faithful Promise Keeper! 

Hebrews 10:36: keep on patiently doing the Lord’s will  so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” 

My friends let me encourage you to stand firm in your heart and minds on the truth of God’s Word on today for that foundation of God stands sure.  On today open the book of promise, your bible and remind yourselves that when you stand on the promises of God, you are standing on the promises of a faithful promise keeper!

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I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble, and you will answer me.

How magnificent is it that we have a Father whose love is so unfailing that throughout the span of the universe, the entire galaxy, He knows right where we are, what we are up against and exactly what we need. Even when it would seem that we are all alone, even when it would be that we have become weak of heart and cannot see the way before us, He still stands, ever ready, to breathe His very life and perspective into each and every moment of our lives. With such unfailing love and compassion lavished upon us in a world that is desperately lacking, why then wouldn’t we call out to God in each and every situation we face and seek out His heart, vision and perspective?  It would seem the most natural response to one who is aware of the goodness and fullness that resides within His very being. 

 “I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble, and you will answer me.” Psalm 86:7

 

Don’t you care is often the question that crosses many a mind in times of trouble, just like it did with the disciples when they were in the boat and with Martha in her reproach of Mary’s decision that day. For all things were made by Him and for Him and in Him all things find their meaning.  We desire to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that we are not alone and that someone truly cares.  Sometimes it does not even take a trying circumstance to bring us to this point. Sometimes it is the everyday weight of a heavy workload bearing down upon us.

 

Just as Jesus rebuked Martha in her reproach of Mary’s decision that day, so did He with the disciples on the boat. And here is the thing….He did not rebuke these people because He did not care. Quite the contrary, He has a heart filled with love and compassion that we have not yet even seen the depths of – for them and for us. What He addressed, what He rebuked in those encounters was a spirit of unbelief that was attempting to take root within the soil of their hearts.

 

Do we choose to believe that God is who He says He is? Do we agree and partner with the word He speaks over our lives? Does it take root deep, down within us?  Or when the times of trial come does that seed merely get blown out upon the wind? Do we forget that Jesus is riding the wave with us and His voice and very word can still even the most insurmountable force; this Jesus Christ who lives within you.    

Giving Your Issues to God!

There are so many issues that we are faced with everyday. These issues can be stressful, time consuming and troublesome. In Luke chapter 8 there is a woman who is seeking out Jesus because she had a medical issue. For twelve years, she suffered with continual bleeding and could find no cure. The Bible says that she spent all her money seeking out doctors who couldn’t heal her. Imagine having any issue for twelve long years and no one could help you. This woman was in a crowd of people and found out that Jesus was in her vicinity. Can you picture this woman pressing her way to Jesus? The Bible says that when she reached Him, she reached out, touched His robe and immediately the bleeding stopped. 

“Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped.” Luke 8:44
 

The passage goes on to state that Jesus immediately knew someone had touched Him. So many times we are waiting for a touch from God, yet when was the last time we touched Him? This woman, who had this issue, had an urgency within her. Jesus said that He felt healing power leave His body.  Many times we wait around for something to happen when we should be in a hurry to reach out for God. When this woman pressed past how she felt and reached out and touched Him, she was immediately healed. This took extreme courage for she was in a bloody, shameful state.

My friends we must to learn to put away pride, our past failures at resolving issues and reach out to God. The level that God operated in this woman’s life is how God wants to operate in our lives. He wants our issues to be healed, restored and made whole. It is because of this woman’s faith, He was able to do this. In verse 8 Jesus said to her, “your faith has made you well.” God is our help in times of trouble. It doesn’t matter what the issues are. There is no issue too big for God. He is there waiting for us to relinquish it. It’s time we reached out and touched God with every issue we have. Every fear, doubt and apprehension must be laid down so when we touch Him, it’s in complete faith. 

Fully Trusting God!

It is not easy to walk in faith when we are going through tough times. When things are good it is effortless to trust God. It’s in those moments, when we can’t see our way out, that God desires for us to lean on Him. In Hebrews 11 the writer begins to list endless examples of how God delivered people in the very situations they were in. The writer goes on to say that if we don’t have faith, we aren’t pleasing to God. God’s desire is that we have an intimate relationship with Him. It’s in having a close relationship with Him that we begin to learn, know and trust God. This experience comes through our prayer life. The trials and tribulations we experience should drive us into the presence of God, not the arms of doubt.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” 

Hebrews 11:6

In order to have faith in God, we must first realize that God is God and there is nothing too difficult for Him. Satan’s job is to persuade us to think that our problems are too big for God or that the situation is impossible to fix. Sometimes the problems can seem so enormous that we wouldn’t dare to bring our issues to God. However, in Luke 18:1 Jesus reminded the disciples that we should always pray and not faint. It is impossible to have faith in God if we don’t know and recognize who He is. Once we come into the realization of who God is then we can truly operate in faith.

It is imperative that while we go through our situations, we seek God with an earnest and passion that surpasses our fears and doubts. God is more than capable of handling  everything we go through. When we say we trust God, we are saying that we have a dependence and reliance on Him. The trust is not in our careers, intellect or money, but in God. He is waiting for us to enter His presence and to tell Him about all of our issues and concerns. When we do this, then and only then will we experience the rewards of answered prayer, solved problems and increased faith. My friends, let us walk full of faith, trusting, leaning and depending on God. “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.” Psalm 9:10

Having Faith in God?

Having faith in God is easy to say when things are going well. When things get tough it may not be so easy to do. It’s during these times that our true character and faith level begins to manifest. There’s nothing like a good old fashion lay off, mortgage increase or a family problem to put your faith to the test. That’s when we begin to discover the truth about ourselves. Is our faith in our job, our spouse(if married), our family or in our God? Have a wonderful day as you continue to put your faith and trust in God. 

Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God.” Mark 11:22

In all these circumstances there are different positions we can take. We can take the position of feeling like we are being punished for something we did. We can take the stance of fighting it with the individuals who are the bearers of “the bad news” or we can take the position of just standing still and having faith in God.

When we have faith in God we are saying that we trust, rely and have an assurance in Him. We may not have all of the definitive answers, but we know that God is going to work it out for our good. The Bible encourages us to know that all things work together for our good because we love Him. (Romans 8:28). God is our Father and He wants the best for us. We have to be like a tree in God, planted and rooted,(Jeremiah 17:8) allowing nothing to shake our faith in Him.

My friends, God wants us to fully trust and rely in Him. This is inclusive of the good times, bad times, misfortunes, mistakes and life’s continual curves. It’s in these moments we can truly appreciate the awesomeness of God. “Without faith we can’t please God.”(Hebrews 11:6) As we strive to achieve all that God has assigned us to do, we must make sure our faith is in Him. People will fail us, but know that when your faith is in God there is no failure in Him.

Why do we Question to Trust God?

If we were present at this scene, I am sure the frustration that Simon Peter felt at Jesus’ command to lower the nets would have singed the ears of the hardiest sailor. He was a strong man, prone to angry outbursts of emotion. I think we could safely say that Peter shared his frustration of a fishless night with Jesus at His suggestion to try one more time. Out of profound love and respect for Jesus, Peter reluctantly did as Jesus commanded. 

“When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” Luke 5:4–5

As believers, we likewise want success in overcoming doubts so that we can courageously follow God. But sometimes we rely on our own faculties to decide whether or not we will trust Him. Perhaps what He is asking of us seems unreasonable. Out of obedience to Jesus, Simon listened and did as He asked. The result was an enormous catch of fish that overflowed and nearly sank two boats. In spite of a night of failed attempts to bring in a catch, frustrated and tired, Simon complied with Jesus’ command to try one more time.

 

Are you like Simon/Peter, tired and frustrated, do you want to quit and just get some rest because by all indications your best efforts are hopeless? Jesus is calling, lovingly asking you to “Put out into the deep and lower your nets.” Out of love for Jesus, obediently do as He commands. As Peter, you are most likely saying, “Lord, this is beyond hopeless. I have tried everything and my spouse won’t even talk to me much less come home. I am tired and I just want to get some rest.”

 

All Jesus asks of you is obedience to His commands. Peter was obedient to Jesus and was richly blessed with a huge haul of fish that nearly tore his nets. Are you ready to be blessed? Are you willing to be obedient to God and your marriage vows by trying one more time? Jesus is with you, equipping you with all you need for an incredible catch.

May God give you more of His peace!

Many believers often forfeit peace because they don’t seek to know God more. They don’t put the necessary effort into reading the word, praying and working at renewing they mind daily. They panic instead of praying. They looked at their circumstances instead of God’s promises. But, when we as believers decide to trust Him more and more. Peace will flood in. Have a wonderful day as you always His peace to rule your heart. Love you all in Christ. 

“May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.” 2 Peter 1:2 AMP

 

Do you remember your first experience of the overwhelming sense of God’s presence that accompanies trusting in Jesus? When people first experience forgiveness and life in Jesus, one of their first responses may be astonishment over how much peace occurs ― especially in their minds. That is how it was with me. At first, I sensed much contentment — it was greater than anything I had ever experienced. I soon realized that along with this contentment and a desire to follow Christ wholeheartedly comes a battle — the battle for our will and for our minds. No surprise there. Jesus promised that in this world we would have trouble (John 16:33).

 

However, He also promised His peace could reign in our hearts, not just the first time we come to Him, but every time. We can retain that peaceful sensation no matter what bombards us in life. Growing in our knowledge of the Lord is a lifelong pursuit. Peter reminds us it is worth every effort. He says God will provide more and more grace and peace as we grow in our knowledge of Jesus our Lord.

 

Lord, thank you for your promise of grace and peace as we grow in our knowledge you. Teach us to know You. Write your word on our heart. Help us to pray according to your will and pray through everything we need. Thank You that You hear and will answer according to Your will. Thank You for the promise of Your peace — beyond anything this world can give. Amen and Amen!

We can be Certain!

There is so much uncertainty in the world. When we go through seasons of uncertainty, we need to remind ourselves of the times we’ve struggled and wondered if God would come through for us. Not that we should want to dwell in the past, but to merely pause and reflect that He always does come through in one way or another for us. In hindsight we will see that we never needed to worry about God meeting our needs. Since God has come through for us before, we can be certain He will do the same now. 

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

I am reminded of the account in the gospels when a storm violently shook the boat Luke 8:23-25. The disciples frantically feared for their lives. It’s easy to see why they would have reacted this way. Jesus, on the other hand, slept peacefully in the boat. When they woke Him, Jesus asked them why they didn’t have faith He would make sure everything turned out alright. Then, Jesus calmed the waves with one command ― which left his followers astonished that even the wind and waves would obey Him.

 

Jesus was physically present in their daily lives, but when the storm hit they needed to make a choice to trust Him. Today, His Spirit is alive and dwelling among us. Therefore there is no need to worry because we are always in the presence of the one who commands the universe. If we say we believe in Jesus, then why not believe Him? He asks us the same thing in our times of uncertainty…where is out faith?

 

Again, it is a daily discipline. No matter the uncertainty, where there is Jesus, there can be peace. You can be certain of it.

 

So let me encourage you to go deeper — When you feel overwhelmed, just stop. Turn all distractions and sources of noise off. Be still. Thank the Lord for what He has done for you in the past and thank Him for the plans and purposes He has for you. Praise God that He has you in His loving arms.

Having Patience and Hope!

When we are suffering physically or passing through a time of great trial, it doesn’t seem possible that any good could ever come out of it. Yet Paul says we can rejoice when we run into problems and trials; and the reason we do is that, though at the time we cannot see it, something good is going to come out of the trial. The suffering itself is not good but the patience, the experience, the hope that spring from it is very good. 

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.”  Romans 5:3-4            

When we face trials that are outside of our control, we are made to learn the lesson of patience. Whether we want to or not, we have to wait. We don’t get what we want immediately. But so often, when the trial is finally lifted, we are able to see how God has used even this difficulty to shape our lives, and the lives of others perhaps, in ways that we could never have imagined. Thus, trials give us experience of God’s wisdom and faithfulness.

In the time of suffering we come to place great value on the promises of God. We may know the promises by memory, but they are never so full of meaning as when we claim them in our darkest hours and deepest struggles. The patience and experience we have gained from past deliverances gives us hope to trust in the Lord and in His promises.

Good has come from our trials because we now have a greater sense our weakness and God’s strength. We have been drawn to a closer walk with Him, and His promises are not just words but a reality in our life. So with Paul we “we can rejoice when we run into problems and trials.” 

Contentment In Every Circumstance!

Most people in the world today are seeking some kind of contentment. Some seek it through purchasing a new house or a fancy car, or as many other items as their hearts desire. Others seek to find contentment by sacrificing possessions and living a simple life, free from temporal things. Some equate contentment with happiness, others with simply being resigned to the fact that we won’t ever get everything we desire. But the truth is that real contentment can only be found through Jesus Christ. As Christians, we have everything we need and so much more… When the Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the church in Philippi, here is what he had to say about contentment: 

“I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”  Philippians 4:11-13

The amazing part about this passage is that Paul was writing this letter from prison. He knew that whether he was in prison or in a palace, in any circumstance, he could be content, for Christ was with him. Paul found his identity in Christ. He knew that the source of his satisfaction, hope, strength and riches was found in Christ. With confidence, Paul could say that satisfaction and contentment are found in Christ alone, a lesson he learned this through many trials. What about you? Do you find yourself hoping in something other than Christ to satisfy? Perhaps a new job,or a relationship, or health. All those are good things, but only Christ can satisfy.

Paul knew that through Christ, he could do all things… even be content in seeming hopeless circumstances.  We have this same promise today… that the same God that empowered Paul to be content in prison, is at work in our lives today. We can live our entire lives seeking comfort in relationships, acknowledgement and power. We can seek contentment from temporal pleasures. None of these things will satisfy. Not really. They may give fleeting surges of happiness, but they do not last. Jesus is our righteousness, our rest, and contentment. Only the face of God satisfies. Only being in His presence allows us to reflect His likeness.

Let’s take control of our thoughts, dear friends. Let us stand with Paul in declaring, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). Let us put our hope in God who never changes, rather than the fluctuating circumstances around us. Even if nothing else may be going right, I can be confident that God is with me. Let’s discover together that God is enough through every season of life! I am speaking out loud to my soul today, “Why are you in despair, O my soul? Why are you in disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him. The help of my countenance and my God.” (Psalms 43:5)