Promises, from Mom

God's promise.  A solemn pledge to perform or grant a specific thing.  God does not have to promise anything to us, but He did.  This shows His grace and faithfulness to a sinful people. 

Trust God.  Hebrews 9:15  That is why He is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them.  For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under the first covenant.

In order to receive God's promises we must humble ourselves and seek His face.  Then we can be encouraged and claim His promises.  The Holy Spirit will help us.  Romans 8:26  And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.  for example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for.  But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.  

We claim God's promises.  2 Peter 1:3-4  All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  It is by His great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead.  Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance--an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.  

Before claiming a promise, check ourselves in three areas: faith, obedience, patience. 

First, we must trust Jesus as our personal Savior and live on the basis of our belief in Him.  Obeying God is also necessary.  If we continue to disobey the Lord, then He is not obligated to fulfill His promise.  1 Peter 3:12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and His ears are open to their prayers.  But the Lord turns His face against those who do evil.   Finally, patience is another requirement.  God operates on His timetable to accomplish His purposes according to His plan.  Waiting on Him is necessary. 

From me.  God gives us many, many promises throughout His Word.  They are ours to claim. stand on, wait for and cling to.  Some are for the here and now, others for our eternal glory.  Some of the promises were for a specific event, time or person.  While there are many promises for us to take as our own, we must always remember to check the context.  The one thing that is true for any and all promises from Scripture is the One who promised is faithful.  God always keeps His word and we can rest in Him.  It may not be in our timing, but it will be in the perfect timing. 

Lord, thank You.  All of Your promises in Christ true and faithful.  Lord, help us to wait on Your timing, trust in Your plans, and rely on Your love.  Let us hold tight to the promises You give us.  You are faithful. 

Corinthians 1:19-22  For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between "Yes" and "No."  He is the One whom Silas, Timothy and I preached to you, and as God's ultimate "Yes," He always does what He says.  For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "Yes!"  And through Christ, our "Amen" (which means "Yes") ascends to God for His glory.    It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ.  He has commissioned us, and He has identified us as His own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything He has promised to us.  

Find your promises from God.  Write them down where you can look at them often.  Cling to them.