More Promises!

God is so good. He desires a great relationship with us, not merely a blanket policy to the world as a one collective body, but a true, deep, personal relationship with each one of us individually.  Merely the privilege of connecting with the God of the universe should be enough to motivate us, but He doesn’t stop there. He promises to give us so much more!

Take time to read and reread the following scripture. These are just a few of the many promises for us found in God’s Word. As you read these give Him thanks and commit to doing your part to earnestly and diligently seek and serve Him. You will not go unrewarded!

“But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 cor 2:9

“Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:10

“But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].” Hebrews 11:6

Promises! Promises!

The Word is full of awesome promises that we must grab hold of, firmly believe, and accept as ours for the taking! God is so awesome. As I mentioned in my last post, I have been in a bit of a spiritual stand still for a while now. I believe we all go through these times, but we will reap if we faint not! (Galatians 6:9)

It is not wrong to go through these times. It is not wrong to have questions and feel discouraged. It is wrong to give up and walk away from it all. We must press on and hold to the promises of His Word regardless of feelings. It may take a while but we will come through with His help, and we’ll be stronger on the other side if we don’t give up.

Personally, since I wrote the last post and shared some scripture I am holding to in this tough time I have been feeling a reawakening in my spirit. Why? Because the Word is alive and active! When it gets into us it goes to work and it will accomplish what God intends. Do not succumb to the pressure to fix yourself…you can’t. Just get into the Word everyday…regardless of how you feel…and God will do the rest!

“For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective];” Hebrews 4:12a

“He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound].” Isaiah 40:29

It's ok!

Ever been discouraged, frustrated, or just plain confused about God and life and the whole deal? Well, you are in good company…even King David, a man after God’s own heart, dealt with these same struggles.

In Psalm 13:1-6 we find David basically saying to God, “I’m frustrated and don’t feel like you’re listening. How long will you wait before you help me out here?” But he doesn’t end there. He claims that despite his feelings he will continue to trust and rejoice in the Lord in whom he has placed his confidence. Despite his feelings and struggles, David made a choice and stuck with what he knew to be true regardless of what his circumstances and emotions were telling him.

I’m not afraid to be honest with you. This is where I am right not. I have been in a time of spiritual frustration, if you will, for some time now. Granted, I just had a baby and my hormones are wacky which I’m sure only adds to this sense if irritation and despair. But here is the point I want you to get; even though I am going through this rough patch I know that my God will deliver me, and I know that I will be stronger on the other side. I know this because He has done it before and because I believe His Word to be true even when my emotions are telling me that things just don’t add up.

As we see from David’s example, it is ok to tell God how we feel. He already knows anyway. But the key is to make a decision to trust Him and His Word, whether we “feel” like it or not. Just keep hanging on. That’s what I’m doing!

This scripture is my “go to” promise right now.

“He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound].  Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted; But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.” Isaiah 40:29-31

Though I am tired and weary, though I have stumbled and fallen, I will wait for and expect God’s help and restoration. And when it comes I will once again be able to soar!

Hope!

Decide right now (set your mind and keep it set) that this is going to be a great week!

Even if things don't always go the way we would want, we already have the promise that God will work everything out for good. (Romans 8:28) So give thanks to God in all things (rejoice and pray continually) and be constant and steadfast in hope - in the expectation that good things are going to happen! God has already told us that He has good plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11), and that even when bad things happen (as they will) we are to take heart...He has already overcome the world! (John 16:33) The world and our circumstances only have the power over us that we give to them. The truth is that in Him we are more than conquerors...we already have the victory in whatever comes our way! (Romans 8:37)

"May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope." Romans 15:13

Answered Prayers

Sorry for dropping off recently. On April 15th the Lord blessed us with the birth of our son! :) Holden's arrival is the culmination of so much prayer and the incredible fulfillment of a promise of God.

After we lost the baby in February of last year (you can read about this journey in the "Purpose In Pain" series on the archive section), I began praying Hannah's prayer in 1 Samuel 1:11 which says, " O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your handmaid and [earnestly] remember, and not forget Your handmaid but will give me a son, I will give him to the Lord all his life," In my prayer I vowed that Tim and I would raise our son to love and serve the Lord all the days of his life. (Of course I would have been thrilled with another daughter just as well, but this was the prayer I prayed.)

It did not happen instantly. It took us longer to get pregnant than most after a pregnancy loss but we we kept believing, and we know that God is always faithful!

Are you believing for something in your life? Above all, know that we should seek God's will for our lives because He knows what is best and He desires to bless us and give us an incredible life (even if that means not giving us some of the things we really think we should have). If the Lord has placed a desire in your heart make your request known to Him. Put your trust in Him. Ask and keep on asking, but know that He will take care of it in His way and in His time. Rest in the assurance that God's plans for you are good and amazing and better than anything you could ever plan for yourself! God loves you! You are incredibly precious to Him!

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

^"Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]--" Ephesians 3:20