The Promises of God

Good morning!  Welcome to Thankful Thursday!  It has been desperately H - O - T in the mid-west, as it has over much of our nation!  I remember just a few months ago we were complaining about the cold...goodness, our complaints change with the seasons, don't they? 

Any way, I receive a daily email devotional that is very inspiring and thought provoking.  Earlier this month the devotional was concerning the promises of God.  Some of the information in that email was this...there are 8,910 promises in the Bible!  That is a LOT of promises.  There are 7,706 Old Testament promises and 1,204 in New Testament.  Of these 8,910 promises, 7,485 were made to mankind by God.  Mankind made 1,416 promises to God and the remaining 9 promises were made by Satan to mankind!  Most of the promises made by Satan are found in the book of Job.

I don't know about you, but I think with 7,485 promises made by God to mankind, we pretty much have a promise for any situation that could ever possibly arise in our life!  A promise is simply a vow.  It is an assurance to do or not do something, give or not give something, etc.  God has vowed to His children some 7,485 promises! 

"⁵⁶ Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses."

1 Kings 8:56 (NIV)

God never breaks His promises.  But, can we say the same thing...that we have never broken a promise to Him?  I know I can't.  I don't break my promises to anyone on purpose, let alone God.  When I make the promise, the vow, I fully intend to keep it.  But it never fails that something will get in the way...IF I let it.  You see, it's a choice to keep your promises.  If you say with your mouth and believe in your heart that you are going to do something...then DO IT.  If you don't really have any intention of following through with the words...DON'T DO IT.  It really is that simple.

I certainly want to be a person of my word.  If I say I am going to pray for someone, I don't want it to just be 'lip service.'  I really want to pray for that person.  Satan will attempt to get me 'busy' with many other things, just to keep me from following through with my promise.  Oh, and a 'promise' doesn't necessarily come with the words, "I promise."  If you say it...it is pretty much a promise...a vow.

So since we have these 7,485 promises from God, what should we do to 'receive them?' 

"¹ Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God."

2 Corinthians 7 (NIV)

We need to live like we deserve the promises given to us.  Although we never will truly be deserving of anything God gives us, we need to claim them and at least attempt to live like He would want us to live.  We need to be pure and free from sin, striving to be Christ-like.

I am so very thankful that God loves me enough to give me so many promises.  I don't deserve even the smallest of His attention, yet He gave His angels charge over me.  

"¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you  to guard you in all your ways;"

Psalm 91:11 (NIV)

I pray that I will always keep my promises to God.  I want to say what I mean and mean what I say, so to speak.  I cherish the love of God in my life and I strive to be as Christ-like as I can.  Only with God's help will I succeed.

Take a few moments and consider your words.  I pray that I...that you...will be able to honestly say that the words of my...of your...mouth are genuine and that we will be able to 'keep' the promises and vows we make to our Lord!

God bless,