I PROMISE

I remember as a child those sweet childish words uttered on the playground of childhood, "I Promise".  Those promises were usually made with an ulterior motive on my part.  "I promise to let you go first next time"--all in the quest to go first this time.  "I promise to be your best friend"--until we get into a cat fight over some trivial nothing and I decide to hate you forever.  "I promise to go right to sleep if you let me stay up 30 more minutes"--immediately followed by begging for 15 more minutes.  We learn at an early age to throw out those words, "I promise" with good intentions, but insincere hearts.

AH--then we become adults and learn the adult art of breaking promises.  One of the basic tenants of citizenship is loyalty to our country.  How easily we throw that in the trash heap when things do not go our way.  We promise to get together--not allow time and busyness to interfere with our friendships and family.  Then life happens and the next thing we know it has been 50 years without contact.  We make promises to others and promises to ourselves which are easily broken and quickly forgotten in the midst of living our lives.  Perhaps one of the biggest promises we make as an adult is "Until death do us part."  Better than 50% of those married break that promise.  

And the really biggie are the promises we make to God.  Promises to study His Word, promises to pray, promises to serve, promises of our loyalty, promises to put Him first.  It convicts and saddens me to even think of all these promises--well intended, but back shelved for more "important" things---or so we think.  I honestly think most of us do not set out on a course to break our promises, but somehow we allow it to happen.  And it slowly chips away at our very being--each and every time we break a promise.

I am thankful the promises God has made us will never be broken.  Here is a list of 54 of those promises--and this is only the tip of the iceberg in The Word.

1.  … for the Lord my God will be with me, wherever I go.   Joshua 1:9

2.    God will keep me in perfect peace if my mind is ‘stayed’ on Him.  Isaiah 26:3

3.   “Dan, I (the Lord) will never leave you or forsake you.”  Hebrews 13:5

4.   “Dan, I am with you, always, to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:20

5.    The peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:7

6.    He cares for me.  1 Peter 5:7

7.    I will do even greater things than Jesus did, because He went to the Father.  John 14:12

8.    If I remain in Him and His words remain in me, whatever I ask will be given to me.  John 15:7

9.    The Holy Spirit will guide me into all truth.  John 16:3

10.  The Holy Spirit will give me the right words when I need them.  Mark 13:11

11.  In this world I will have trouble.  John 16:33

12.  If I seek to live godly in Christ Jesus, I will be persecuted.  2 Timothy 3:12

13.  I am justified by Him, freely, by His grace.  Romans 3:24

14.  I have peace with God because I’ve been justified by faith in Jesus.  Romans 5:1

15.  I have access into this grace.  Romans 5:2

16.  There is no condemnation on me because I am in Christ Jesus.  Romans 8:1

17.  The Holy Spirit will help me to pray.  Romans 8:26-27

18.  All things work together for my good.  Romans 8:28

19.  Nothing will separate me from the love of Christ.  Romans 8:35

20.  I shall bear the likeness (and resurrection body) of Jesus, the ‘man from heaven.’  1 Corinthians 15:49

21.  My labor in the Lord is not in vain.  1 Corinthians 15:58

22.  God has created good works for me to walk in, today.  Ephesians 2:10

23.  I am being transformed into His likeness.  2 Corinthians 3:17

24.  God won’t let me be tried or tempted beyond what I can endure.  1 Corinthians 10:13

25.  God comforts the downcast, including me.  2 Corinthians 7:6

26.  God is able to make all grace abound to me, so all my needs will be met.  2 Corinthians 9:8

27.  I am worth (to God) more than the birds that He feeds.  Matthew 6:26

28.  God will supply all my needs.  Philippians 4:19

29.  God won’t forsake me (the righteous in Christ) nor have my children become beggars.  Psalm 37:25

30.  God’s grace will be sufficient for me.  2 Corinthians 12:9

31.  I will reap what I sow.  Galatians 6:7

32.  I have an inheritance.  Ephesians 1:14

33.  I have been brought near by the blood of Jesus.  Ephesians 2:13

34.  I may approach God with freedom and confidence.  Ephesians 3:12

35.  The Father has qualified me to share in the inheritance of the saints.  Colossians 1:12

36.  Christ now is in me!  Colossians 1:27

37.  God is faithful and will sanctify me.  1 Thessalonians 5:24

38.  God will repay with trouble those who trouble me.  2 Thessalonians 1:6

39.  God has given me a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline.  2 Timothy 1:7

40.  I have a crown of righteousness awaiting me, because I long for His appearing.  2 Timothy 4:8

41.  God won’t lie to me, because God cannot lie.  Titus 1:2

42.  Jesus will help me if I’m tempted.  Hebrews 2:18

43.  Varied trials will lead to my maturity.  James 1:2

44.  If I ask for wisdom from God, He will give it to me.  James 1:5

45.  If I ask, God will provide it.  James 4:2

46.  If I resist the devil, he will take a hike.  James 4:7

47.  If I draw near to God, He will draw near to me.  James 4:8

48.  Prayer is effective (note: my organization values effectiveness).  James 5:16

49.  After I have suffered for a little while, He will strengthen, confirm and establish me.  1 Peter 5:10

50.  A new heaven and earth await me, called the ‘home of righteousness’.  2 Peter 3:13

51.  He forgives and cleanses me as I confess my sins to Him.  1 John 1:9

52.  When Jesus re-appears, I’ll be made like Him.  1 John 3:2

53.  God has given me eternal life.  1 John 5:11

54.  I am a present possessor of eternal life, which is mine in the present tense verb “have.”  1 John 5:13

AND---HE keeps His promises.  Faithfully.  I am thankful today for The Great Promise Keeper.

"No, I will not break my covenant; I will not take back one word of what I said."

Psalm 89:34