I Am A Promise!

Promise (präm’is) n. [ME promis < L promissum < promittere, to send before or forward < pro-, forth + mittere, to send] M: Indication, as of a successful prospect or future basis of expectation

David had a promise from God. Samuel had actually come right into his house when he was quite young and told him he’d be King one day! But then what happened? No Crown! No Royal Robes! Other things were happening though! He did move into King Saul’s palace; was befriended by Saul’s son, Jonathan; even married Saul’s daughter! Sometimes, though, it just seemed that for every two steps forward David took, he took three steps back! He did live in Saul's palace, yet Saul soon became jealous and tried to kill David (over and over and over…)! His friend, Jonathan, did love him dearly, but being the person of honor he was, he had to remain faithful to his father, King Saul. Even David’s wife turned on him! David ended up running for his life! Just when it looked as if things could not get any darker for David, I Samuel 29-30 tells us that as he returned home to Ziglag from battle, he and his men found that that the enemy had attacked their hometown taking their families, stealing possessions, burning and destroying their homes. David and his men wept until they could no more. Then, David’s men even began talking of killing him! Now at this point, some would have considered giving up. Things looked bleak!

Can you identify? If I’m being totally frank with you, I identify so strongly at this moment, I feel my address could be changed to "S.W. God Help Me Street“ in downtown Ziglag! Death has struck my immediate family not once but twice in less than two weeks. The grief is overwhelming. The floundering economy continues to wreak havoc with our family finances; and old physical challenges have resurfaced and grow alarmingly worse by the day. I see evidence of an all-out enemy attack everywhere I turn. Things look bleak!

So, what did David do in the face of a devastating enemy attack? Instead of giving up, and giving in when things seemed their worst, he looked within. He believed in and held close to his heart the promise Samuel had given him so many years earlier. Through every trial he remembered that God had made him a person of promise! He was not about to give up before that promise was fully realized. 1 Samuel 30:6 says that in the face of overwhelming odds, “David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” Those 10 little words turned David’s life around there in Ziglag (read the rest of the story to see what I mean! The outcome is pretty cool!!!)

He had a choice, and so do I. So do you!! Truth is, everyone who loves the Lord is a “Person of Promise”! And just like in David's life, when God plants a promise in us, who are we to give up before that promise is fully realized? So, no matter my circumstances today, I am going to encourage and strengthen myself in the Lord! Let me urge you to do the same. Read Psalms, sing songs of praise to God; remind yourself of His faithfulness. And as we bring to mind His faithfulness; let’s remember that we are victors because of Him; then stir up the gift that He placed within us! I’m certain that this is the kind of activity God will use to ultimately turn our circumstances around, just as He did for David! PROMISE!!

Rushing Rivers & Big-Time Giants!

The book of Joshua begins at a time of tumultuous changes for Joshua, the assumed author of that book. His long-time friend and mentor, Moses has just died. His people, the Israelites, having traveled the wilderness for 40 years, are now on the "outskirts" of Canaan, just one rushing river and a few battles with some "big-time giants" away from laying claim to the promise God gave their forefathers many years before. And, in the opening verses of the book, God reminds Joshua that HE is the one who is going to lead the people across the Jordan to claim that promise. WHOA! All the hopes and dreams handed down for hundreds of years are now resting on the shoulders of this man! How's he supposed to handle that kind of pressure??? But wait, before we go there...

How are things in your life right now? Are you in the middle of things as usual or have you reached a time of "rushing rivers and big-time giants"? (I know I have!) Well, thankfully, there is great news for all of us who find ourselves in unsettled, tumultuous times! In Joshua 1:6a & 7-9 God speaks not only to Joshua, but to everyone who has ever been overwhelmed by life's circumstances. "Be strong (confident) and of good courage." "Only be strong and very courageous, that you may do according to all the law which Moses, My servant, commanded you. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success. Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

THERE IT IS! The answer for Joshua, and for all of us facing challenges today!!

(1) Stay strong and courageous (He refers to staying strong and courageous/not afraid four times in that short passage...hmmm...must must be really important, huh?)

(2) Stay in the Word of God. Meditate on it day and night that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it...

(3)Remember God is with you wherever you go!

The keys to victory! They worked for Joshua's "rushing river and big-time giants", and I am confident they will work for all the challenges before us today!

Come on out! Some battles are won step by step!

Honesty is the policy today! I awoke this morning far more ready to pull the covers back over my head and hide than to take time to thank God for the new day. If it could go wrong these past few months, it has gone wrong! So, as I lay there in bed today, I had one critical decision before me: was I going to keep my eyes on my circumstances or was I going to turn them onto my God? In keeping with my "honesty policy", I will not sugarcoat this story. No angels sang, and I did not float on a cloud of glory from the bed to my chair for Bible study time. But, with God's help, I did end up making the quality decision to tear my eyes off my circumstances and I did spend time in the Word of God. Listen to what I found there.

In the book of Exodus, I was reminded that just as God prepared Moses to deliver the Israelites, He sent Jesus to be our deliverer. Just as He led the Israelites with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, the Holy Spirit leads us today. The Israelites deliverance was a process, a journey. In most cases, so is ours. God almost always guides us through situations one step at a time, instead of moving us instantly from one situation to the next. That's how we mature--slowly! He used the Israelites' journey to develop the faith, trust and strength they would need in the Promised Land. We, too, grow as we follow God step by step!

Consider one more thing...just as for the Israelites, God drives out our enemies (all the "ites")-- the bad back-ites, the nosey neighbor-ites, the demanding boss-ites, the mounting bill-ites, the business down turn-ites, the children won't do right-ites--little by little until we are strong enough to take possession of what He has for us (adapted from Exodus 23:30)!! So, next time you are tempted to pull the covers over your head as I was this morning, next time you are tempted to let your burdens overwhelm you, DON'T DO IT! Because of God, each of us can throw the covers back each morning and stand firm on the promises that are ours as His children! So step out with me, won't you? Let's stand in confidence and in gratitude each morning! Let's tear our eyes off our circumstances and choose, instead, to look at our God! He's far bigger than any situation in our life ever could be! Let's choose to believe what the Word of God tells us--that He is fighting our battles for us and that something good is coming our way...no matter WHAT our circumstances may look like!!