Dear Friend, As a believer, God’s Word is your unfailing anchor no matter what storm you may be facing today. The promises of Scripture can steady you and give you peace when you doubt your relationship with the Father, wonder if He can forgive you, distrust the path He is leading you on, or question if you will be able to survive the trials that have arisen in your life. His Word assures us, “Not one word has failed of all His good promise” (1 Kings 8:56). I think about the many times I’ve had an especially busy or stressful week that caused me to feel exhausted as I got up to preach the sermon on Sunday morning. Tired and depleted I would pray, “God, I hardly have the energy to get up and get dressed. Jesus, You’re going to have to help me.” Without fail, He would bring this verse to mind, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isa. 41:10). Time after time, I would walk on the platform, and my weariness would melt away. I could feel the power of God energizing me—just as He said He would. Of course, there have been many other instances when His Word has sustained me through difficult challenges. I remember how my mother gave me Joshua 1:9 to encourage me as I preached my first sermon; how Isaiah 54:17 carried me through one of the most contentious seasons in my role as a pastor; and how Proverbs 3:5-6 has been a faithful compass for every decision I’ve had to make. Truly, our heavenly Father does exactly as He promises. But perhaps you are wondering, "What about me? Does God give me assurances in His Word? How do I know if I am meant to claim a promise? How do I know when the Lord is speaking to me through a verse of Scripture? It can be confusing, especially because certain biblical passages apply to specific people and situations. Therefore, here are some guidelines to help you. First, you know you can claim a promise when it fits a personal need the Lord has pledged to fulfill. repeatedly Scripture asserts that the Father has good plans for your life and wants to lead you in the best way possible. Therefore, you can be confident in claiming a verse such as Psalm 32:8, in which He says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.” Second, always consider the context of the promise. For instance, Psalm 37:4 proclaims, “He will give you the desires of your heart.” However, that is not the full message of the verse. Rather, you must first satisfy the requirement: “Delight yourself in the Lord.” Then, as He works in and through you, you will see your dearest longings met. Third ask, “Does fulfilling this promise honor God and His plans for my life?” As we observed in the preceding point, the Father wants to grant the yearnings of your innermost being. But what happens when what you desire to do is expressly forbidden in Scripture—like stealing or harming others? Or what if it impedes what He has purposed for you to accomplish? If you ask for something that is sinful or contrary to His will for your life, the Lord will not grant your request. He wants the best for you and will not allow anything to undermine His goals. Therefore, always examine your heart, and make sure that your first priority is to glorify Him. This leads to the fourth guideline, which is to make sure you are walking in obedience to God’s will because it positions you perfectly to receive the promise. You are assured, “The Lord longs to be gracious to you” (Isa. 30:18). But the Father may direct you in ways you do not understand in order to bless you. So walk in the center of His plans for your life, confident that, “They who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing” (Ps. 34:10). Finally, you will know the Father is making you a personal promise through a particular Scripture because the Holy Spirit will confirm it by giving you peace. First Corinthians 2:12 teaches, “We have received . . . the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God.” The Lord may emphasize a particular verse by bringing it to your mind repeatedly. He may also focus your attention on a passage through your reading or interactions with others. But regardless of how the Holy Spirit reveals His promises to you, abiding peace and confidence in Christ will be the result. Therefore, as you read the Bible, listen carefully for His promptings. So do you ever have doubts about the path you’re on? Do you wonder if God can help you overcome the trials you’re facing or if He will really forgive you? The Father wants to give you assurance through His Word. Therefore, read the Bible, pay attention to the context, set your heart to honor God, walk in His will, and listen for the Holy Spirit’s promptings. Undoubtedly, He will give you promises that sustain you through the most difficult circumstances, keep you steady, and grant you peace.
Posted on: Thu, 05 Sep 2013 12:54:16 +0000
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