Holding on...

I think one of the most important things we can do as God's children is to hold on to His promises. Though we spend our lifetime learning to trust Him more and growing in faith, I think it's important to take inventory and reflect on how much we are actually trusting Him in the moment we're living in. It seems to me that in times of distress, most of us will turn to that sense of trust or faith simply because we feel we have nothing left. I have learned that it's not really the best way to function as His children. It's like being that child that only calls their parent when they are in trouble or comes home when they have nowhere else to turn.

God makes a lot of promises in His word. A lot. The whole Bible is full of knowledge that leads to the Person of God - who He is, what He's like. And everything He says is true, and He can not lie. But let's not continue saying things like "God keeps His promises", "He can't lie", "Just trust God", if we do not truly mean it. They are nice Christian sayings that we've adopted if we've spent enough time in Bible studies or church. But if we do not believe them - if we don't meditate on their truth - if we do not put them into practice on a regular basis, our words are empty and don't bring the life that they should.

I love this passage from the Message:

Romans 4:13-15: That famous promise God gave Abraham - that he and his children would possess the earth - was not given because of something Abraham did or would do. It was based on God's decision to put everything together for him, which Abraham then entered when he believed. If those who get what God gives them only get it by doing everything they are told to do and filling out all the right forms properly signed, that eliminates personal trust completely and turns the promise into an ironclad contract! That's not a holy promise; that's a business deal. A contract drawn up by a hard-nosed lawyer and with plenty of fine print only makes sure that you will never be able to collect. But if there is no contract in the first place, simply a promise - and God's promise at that - you can't break it.

This is a wonderful illustration of what God's promises are like. They are firm, unshakable and not dependent on human performance. God's promises totally depend on Him - they do not depend on us at all. If we know then that what God speaks is totally true and non-dependent on us, then why do we live as if they aren't true and do depend on us? Is that the way you view God's promises?

I would challenge you, reader, (and myself) to pick some of God's promises, and believe them. Really believe them. The one I've been focusing on over the past few months is from Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose. This verse says to me that no matter what happens in my life, whether good or bad, whether I cause it or not, God will use it for my good. He will turn it into a positive for me. Well, if that's true, I can't lose! I may have to walk through tough times, but in the end, everything will be alright and I will be on top of my situation, because that is God's perfect will for me!

Again, let's go forward believing God. Start with a couple of His promises, and practice believing them, even on a "normal day" where you aren't normally tuned into those promises. We don't want to live our life wrapped up in a lie - we want to live it free in His truth and grace! Enjoy His promises, dear child - He's perfect and He won't let you down.