Walking In His Promise

Walking In His Promise The Scriptures can speak to us in whatever situation we are in. If we take the time to search them we can find the answer to all our daily problems.

Whatever we are feeling, suffering or hoping.....the Bible has something to say to us.

04/17/2024

Your Harvest Is On The Way

‘The seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.’
Mark 4:27 NKJV
Have you sown a ‘seed’ of faith, and now you’re wondering when you will reap the ‘harvest’ God promised in His Word? If so, read on: ‘The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come’ (vv. 26-29 NKJV). Before you reap the harvest of blessing God promised, you go through certain stages.

First there is the ‘not knowing’ stage. Your seed is buried in the ground. How and when your harvest comes is entirely up to God. But you must believe that it will happen.

Next comes the ‘blade’ stage. It’s just a tiny blade blowing in the breeze, but it’s enough to encourage you and let you know your harvest is on the way.

Next comes the ‘head’ stage. The seed has started to sprout and look like what you prayed for. This is when you must water it with prayer, fertilize it with God’s Word, and protect it from anything or anyone that would uproot it through doubt and unbelief.

Finally you enter the ‘full grain’ stage, when the grain ripens and you immediately reap a harvest.

Whatever stage you’re in today, stand fast and keep trusting God. Your harvest is on the way!

05/01/2023

Change Your Expectations
‘These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you.’
John 15:11 KJV
Why did Jesus say, ‘These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full’? Because if you let it, stress will drain you of joy and consign you to a life of depression, dullness, and discontent. Let’s face it – most of us are way too serious! We make a big deal out of everything. Being five minutes late, getting stuck in traffic, somebody giving us a wrong look, waiting in line, overcooking a meal, gaining a pound, discovering a wrinkle, making an honest mistake…you name it; we lose all perspective. The real problem is we have unrealistic expectations.

That’s not how God wants you to live! If you want to experience the joy Jesus promised, do these two things: 1) Concede that your uptightness is largely because of the way you have decided life should be. 2) Acknowledge that your expectations are causing you much of your frustration. When you keep expecting things to always be a certain way and they’re not, you will always be upset.

Here is an idea: try approaching life today without all those expectations. For example, don’t expect everybody to be friendly – then when some are, you will be delighted. Don’t expect your day to be hassle-free; when trouble comes, look up and say, ‘Thank you, Lord, for another chance to grow.’ Go ahead, try it and see how much better things are. Rather than swimming against the tide, learn to flow with it. Pretty soon, you will find you’re enjoying life more! And not just that: other people will enjoy being around you more.

02/16/2023

Instead Of Worrying, Trust God
‘Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything.’
Philippians 4:6 CEV
Paul writes: ‘Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel’ (vv. 6-7 CEV).

Worry is like sitting in a rocking chair; it’s always in motion and it keeps you busy, but it never actually gets you anywhere. In fact, if you do it too long, it wears you out! That’s why we must learn to ‘take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ’ (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV).

One medical expert says that we create about thirty thousand thoughts per day, and an uncontrolled thought life can create a perfect environment for needless worry to thrive. The cause of worry is simple: it’s the reluctance to trust God to take care of the various situations in your life. Most of us have spent our lives trying to take care of ourselves, so it takes time – lots of it – to learn how to trust God instead. And the only way you learn that is by doing it. Each time you pray and turn the problem over to God, you experience His faithfulness. That makes it easier for you to trust Him next time. And when it comes to life’s problems, there will always be a ‘next time’.

So each time you begin to feel anxious, say, ‘I trust God completely; there is no need to worry!’ The more you think about this truth, the more you will find yourself choosing trust over worry.

01/23/2023

Handling Change At Work
‘To everything there is a season.’
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV
When change happens in the workplace, we often feel threatened. We get used to the personalities of our co-workers and bosses, and we want them to remain in place, stay the same, and require nothing more from us than what we have given in the past. Out of our desire for stability, security, and predictability, we fail to prepare for instability, uncertainty, and surprises. How ironic! If we were willing to adjust our expectations and be more realistic, we wouldn’t be so traumatized when change comes.

Things can change overnight. It may be the loss of a parent, or a job, or your health. Change is the only constant in life. And it has the potential to move you on to better things or flatten you like a steamroller. The choice is yours. ‘To everything there is a season.’ The truth is, God is your only secure anchor in life, so if you’re wise, you will build a strong relationship with Him. Ultimately, He will never allow you to depend on anything but Him.

Here is Elijah’s story: ‘The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning,…and he drank from the brook. And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land’ (1 Kings 17:6-7 NKJV). Elijah may have panicked, but God didn’t. ‘The word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath…and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you”’ (vv. 8-9 NKJV). Notice what God used to provide for Elijah: ravens, a brook, and a penniless widow. So enjoy your job, excel in it, but depend only on God!

01/19/2023

God’s Remedy For Stress
‘Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.’
1 Peter 5:7 NIV (2011 Edition)
Are you feeling stressed? Is your mind besieged with worries? If so, God wants to relieve your stress. Read the following Scriptures slowly and prayerfully: ‘I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed’ (Psalm 57:1 NIV 2011 Edition). ‘You have been a refuge for the poor…for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm’ (Isaiah 25:4 NIV 2011 Edition). ‘I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go…I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you’ (Genesis 28:15 NIV 2011 Edition). ‘The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms’ (Deuteronomy 33:27 NIV 2011 Edition). ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand’ (Isaiah 41:10 NIV 2011 Edition). ‘Even to your old age…I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you’ (Isaiah 46:4 NIV 2011 Edition). So here’s God’s prescription for stress relief: 1) Believe God truly ‘cares for you’. 2) Make a conscious decision to ‘cast all your anxiety on him’. If you’re on overload, ask God for wisdom to change your schedule. When the problem you’re facing is too big for you to handle, give it to Him - and don’t take it back. Let Him think His thoughts through you, and allow His peace, power, and patience to take charge of your mind. Practice doing this at the beginning of each day, and as often as you need to throughout the day. It’s God’s remedy for stress!

12/15/2022

‘God Is Able’

‘Being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.’
Romans 4:21 NKJV
The reason we don’t turn to God more often is because at some basic and unconscious level we are not ‘fully convinced’ He is able and willing to move on our behalf. Being able to admit that to yourself is humbling; it’s also the point at which you begin to deal with your lack of faith in God. Nothing in your life will change until you pray, ‘Lord, help me. I say things with my lips that I don’t follow through in my behavior.’ Once you begin to pray that way you can start walking through your Bible, rediscovering that ‘God is able’.

He’s able to provide for you when you’re in a wilderness. He’s able to defeat the giants that stand in your way. He’s able to go through fiery trials with you and bring you out unharmed. He’s able to promote you when you’ve been overlooked or opposed. ‘Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us’ (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV).

Whatever it takes to own the words, ‘God is able,’ do it; otherwise, you won’t be able to pray with confidence. You’ll make a few wishes on your knees, but you won’t be able to persevere in prayer until you know in your heart of hearts that God is able – and that He’s willing! Nothing is too difficult for Him. He’s just waiting for you to recognize that and come to Him in faith asking for help.

08/18/2022

Don’t Worry, God Will Take Care Of You

‘I have not seen the righteous forsaken.’
Psalm 37:25 NKJV
If you’re worried about making ends meet, read on: ‘The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread’ (vv. 23-25 NKJV).

You may be at the cliff’s edge today, but God won’t let you go over it. And if you do, He will catch you. ‘You will have plenty to eat…and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you’ (Joel 2:26 NIV). Stop trying to figure everything out and start leaning on God. ‘Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you’ (Psalm 37:3-5 NLT).

God may not give you everything you want, but He will give you everything you need: ‘Don’t worry about these things, saying, “What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?” These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need’ (Matthew 6:31-33 NLT). ‘Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you’ (Psalm 55:22 NLT). Don’t worry, God will take care of you!

08/11/2022

Keep Trusting God; He Will Intervene

‘He…knew it was time to act.’

Exodus 2:25 NLT

“The Israelites continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their cry rose up to God. God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act’ (vv. 23-25 NLT). Just when the Israelites thought life couldn’t get worse, Pharaoh withdrew their straw and ordered them to produce the same daily quota of bricks. That’s when they reached their breaking point!
Is that where you are today? If so, here are three things you need to know:

1) Sometimes it helps to share your feelings. Especially when you do it at the right time, in the right way, to the right people. It can be therapeutic and healing. But often the help you need cannot be found in people, so

2)There comes a time when you must cry out to God. God saw them struggling to get through another day. But since they talked to everybody but Him, nothing changed. Question: have you prayed about it? Prayer must be your first option, not your last resort. David said, ‘I called on the Lord in distress; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place’ (Psalm 118:5-6 NKJV). David’s prayers got him out of a tight spot and into God’s spot.

3) God will always keep His promise. ‘He remembered his covenant promise…and knew it was time to act’ (Exodus 2:24-25 NLT). God works according to His plan, not ours. He has a set schedule for answering your prayer and delivering you, so keep praying and believing Him.

08/09/2022

When Life Seems Too Hard

‘Is anything too hard for [me]?’

Genesis 18:14 NKJV

Much of our stress is brought on by our need to know everything ahead of time – to be in control. Even after we pray and supposedly turn the problem over to God, we live by the philosophy ‘hope for the best and plan for the worst’! You don’t put your money into the bank and then stay awake all night worrying about it, right? Well, have at least that much confidence in God!
When you find yourself in the downward spiral of ‘How? What? When? Where?’ stop and give it to God. Not the limited God of your understanding, but the unlimited God whose track record speaks for itself, whose faithfulness never fails, and who has earned the right to ask, ‘Is anything too hard for [me]?’

Jesus never suffered from the fear of failure like we do. Why? Because He never entertained the thought that He couldn’t do something that His Father had assured Him He could do. And He didn’t suffer from the fear of lack, either. Even though He lived a simple life, He was responsible for supporting Himself and a team of others. How did He do it? The Bible says He prayed morning, noon, and night, staying in constant touch with His heavenly Father. Consequently, He knew how to catch fish when they weren’t biting, and even find tax money in a fish’s mouth when He needed it.

Now, God may not provide for you in exactly that way, but He has promised to take care of you. Here is a promise you should live by today: ‘God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him’ (1 Peter 5:7 CEV).

07/25/2022

Give It Your All

‘I will go…And if I perish, I perish.’
Esther 4:16 NIV
Esther, a Jewish girl married to a pagan king, broke with long-standing tradition, marched into her husband’s throne room, spoke her mind, and rescued her people from annihilation. One girl saved a nation because she was willing to put everything on the line. Are you feeling inadequate today? Are you thinking, ‘Someone else should be doing this job instead of me’? Then read these words written by clergyman Edward Everett Hale: ‘I am only one; but still I am one. I can’t do everything; but still I can do something: and because I can’t do everything, I will not refuse to do the something I can do.’
How many people did it take to rescue the dying man on the Jericho Road? One Good Samaritan. How many people did it take to confront Pharaoh and lead the exodus out of Egypt? One man, Moses. A respected leadership expert writes: ‘God has put a dream inside you. It’s yours and no one else’s. It declares your uniqueness. It holds your potential. Only you can give birth to it. Only you can live it. Not to discover it, take responsibility for it and act upon it is to negatively affect yourself as well as all those who would benefit from your dream.’ Poet John Greenleaf Whittier wrote, ‘For all sad words of tongue and pen; the saddest are these, “It might have been.”’

In your twilight years, will you look back and feel like you’ve spent your life struggling to fulfil other people’s expectations? Or know that you lived it to the fullest by striving to fulfil your God-given dream? Think about it now, while there’s still time to change direction.

07/06/2022

Wait On God!
‘Wait on the LORD.’
Psalm 27:14 NKJV
When we become impatient and react without thinking, we can do damage to ourselves and others. Sometimes when we pray and God doesn’t respond quickly enough, we decide to take matters into our own hands and things get worse as a result. When God tells you to wait, He is saying, ‘Trust me with the timing, the ways and means, and you will get a better result.’

David wrote: ‘I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!’ (vv. 13-14 NKJV). It can be tough to wait on the Lord. It’s much easier in the heat of the moment to lose your calm. Stop and look back. How did the hasty and prayerless decisions you made in the past turn out? Do you think this situation will be different? Not a chance! What do you want? Temporary relief or a permanent solution? Haste makes waste! When you act in haste, you do things you end up regretting and having to apologize for. Or worse, justifying!

Impulsiveness got King Saul into serious trouble. Instead of waiting for the prophet Samuel to arrive and the priests to offer a peace offering to God ensuring their victory over the Philistines, Saul grew impatient, usurped the role of a priest, and offered the sacrifice himself. When Samuel asked him why, he replied, ‘I felt compelled’ (1 Samuel 13:12 NKJV). And the result? ‘Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly…now your kingdom shall not continue”’ (vv. 13-14 NKJV). So, wait on God.

06/30/2022

Work it Out

‘Work out your own salvation…for it is God who works in you…to will and to do…His good pleasure.’
Philippians 2:12-13 NKJV
The Bible says, ‘Work out your own salvation…for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.’ This Scripture almost sounds like a contradiction, doesn’t it? But instead, it is a paradox. And G.K. Chesterton described a paradox as ‘truth standing on its head to get attention’.

The key to understanding this particular paradox lies in the little word out. Notice that the Bible doesn’t say, ‘Work for your salvation.’ To work for something means to earn it, deserve it, merit it. And the Bible plainly teaches that salvation isn’t something we have to work for or earn. It’s a free gift of God’s grace (see Ephesians 2:8-9). When Paul says, ‘Work out your salvation,’ he is talking about a ‘spiritual workout’. What do you do during a physical workout? You develop and tone the muscles God has already provided you. To ‘work out’ means to grow and make the most of what you have been given. What Paul is saying here is this: develop your spiritual life!

God has a part in our spiritual growth, and we, too, have a part. He provides the power, but we must access it, flip the switch, and let it flow through our lives to fulfil His will for us. Practically speaking, how do we do that? By spending time praying and reading God’s Word each day. By sharpening and strengthening one another through fellowship. By exercising the gifts God has given us. The fact is, He has already done His part; now it’s up to you to do yours.

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