Promises

Acts 13:32,33 – And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus.

I really wanted to tell you how many promises there are in the bible but it would seem that no-one can quite agree. What I can tell you with absolute certainty (without actually counting) is that there are hundreds. I remember my granny having a lovely little box on her bedroom dresser that contained 365 promises of God. Each promise was on a tiny scroll which could be lifted out using equally tiny tongs. She found it a blessing to read a promise every morning and remember the goodness of God. His promises give us hope, assurance and strength to face whatever comes our way. The promise that I go to time and time again is found in Isaiah 41 verse 10:

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Be honest, was your spirit lifted by just reading that verse? That is the power of God’s promises; the power of His word. In the verse at the top, Paul is in a synagogue in Pisidia reminding the people of the promises that had been given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and that from the line of David a Saviour would come. He wants them to realise that God has kept his word and those promises were fulfilled through Jesus. The Bible tells us that if God has said it, he will do it, for God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. We can have absolute confidence in the promises of God.

Take time to remind yourself of some of his promises and maybe even share them with others, that they would be a source of encouragement and comfort.