February 13th

Believing the Promises

"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.  He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.   With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." Psalm 91:14-16 

There are some great benefits to loving God. Psalm 91 details some of God’s promises to those who love him. God promises that if we love him, he will

·        Rescue us

·        Protect us (because we acknowledge his name)

·        Answer our prayers

·        Be with us in trouble

·        Deliver us and honor us

·        Give us a satisfying, long life

·        Show us his salvation 

We can stand in faith on these promises and face any struggle in life that comes our way.  The faith part is sometimes very difficult because the circumstances may not confirm that God’s promises are in action. Persisting in belief that God will honor his promises is the secret to being transformed into the new person Christ has made us to be.  Such faith can actually bring the physical manifestation of the promises into existence. 

For example, Paul wrote about how Abraham’s faith brought about his transformation into the father of many nations in Romans 4:16-22:

^“18Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."¹⁹Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead--since he was about a hundred years old--and that Sarah's womb was also dead. ²⁰Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, ²¹being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. ²²This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness."

(See also Hebrews 11:11-12)   

Note how Abraham faced impossible circumstances, yet continued to believe God’s promise to him.  The scripture also mentions that God strengthened Abraham’s faith along the way. 

You may be facing seemingly impossible circumstances in your own life.  If you are struggling to find freedom from an addiction, you can start claiming God’s promises for rescue, restoration and protection, just as Abraham believed God.  All things are possible with God, as Jesus said in Matthew 19:26.  Just as God fulfilled his promises to Abraham, he will fulfill his promises to you.  

Questions for further thought: 

• How are we to show our love for God? 
• What component of our “spiritual armor” is our faith tied to? (Ephesians 6:16) 
• What are some ways we can learn God’s promises?

Prayer: 

“Heavenly Father, Thank you for sending Jesus to die for my sin. Thank you that through my faith in Jesus I have the Holy Spirit living in me.  Please forgive me for all the times that I have disobeyed and grieved the Holy Spirit. I commit myself to cooperate fully with the Holy Spirit. Please revive my faith in your word and promises to me for life and freedom.  I want to have faith like that of Abraham.  I receive it now.  Thank you, Father!  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”