Promises, Promises…

When I was little girl my friends and I would often say to each other: ‘Promise?’ An expectation that whatever we just told each other, we would follow through. Little girl years are a great learning ground for life – not all promises are kept.

Isn’t it what we’re all looking for – a sure thing, those who don’t let us down…a real promise keeper? Marriages dissolve, commitment broken. Friendships fizzle, faithfulness deserted. Employers disappoint, retirement plans dissolve. Even parents – abuse alcohol, abandon children, put ‘stuff’ before them. It’s hard in our world to trust anyone will keep their promise.

So what’s a girl (or a guy) to do? “The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made.” (Psalm 145:13b NIV)

It is true that God is faithful to His promises – but do we know it? Do we believe it? There’s only one way to be sure. Know HIs Word, know His heart, know your Jesus. “Remember the wonders He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He pronounced.” because “He remembers His covenant forever.” (Psalm 105:5, 8a NIV)

This is why His Holy Spirit calls to our heart daily prompting us to open our Bible. Not because He will be faithful if we do, because He is faithful even if we don’t. But oh the promises we will know if we do. We will be sure, we will not come undone when the world does it’s best to undo us. Because we will have His promises as a sure foundation.

What are some of His promises? There are so many, where to begin? The promise to send a Savior – promise kept. The promise to never leave us or forsake us – promise kept. The promise of eternal life – already ours. All the promises of God are a done deal – we don’t have to wait expectantly, hoping that it might happen. Oh, and my favorite promise: someday no more tears, death, pain (Revelation 21:4)

Promises, promises – yes, Lord we want to know them. Saturate our hearts and minds with them. Help us recall them in our brokenness, to repeat them in the midst of another’s mess, to rest in them when the storms brew. Here’s our Promise Keeper: “He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (2Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV)