Do you keep your promises? Are you good for your Word?
We can all appreciate a person who takes his/her promises to be critical and essential.When they give you their word, it as if they are truly pledging themself. They are not just offering empty words.
Advent is one of those reminders that God keeps His Word. He did not just pledge His promises, but He pledged Himself. There are hundreds of prophecies in the OT regarding the coming of the Messiah.
We are told He would be born of a virgin, born in Bethlehem, born of the line of Abraham, and an heir to David. God kept his Word and every one of these came true. It truly is a miracle. The odds of one men fulfilling 3 or 4 of these promises is astronomical.
God also made some other great promises in these prophecies.
The One coming would heal the broken-hearted. (Isaiah 61)
- He would be as a Wonderful Counselor, and Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6)
- He will show us the path of life, and lead us into the joy of his presence (Psalm 16)
- The Spirit of the Lord would be upon Him, and He would lead forth in justice.
- The Messiah would give light to the nations, open the eyes of the blind, bring prisoners out of darkness, set the captives free.
- He would be crushed for our sin, and offer forgiveness and bring us perfect peace.
- God has faithfully looked over his word through the ages.
He has never broken a single promise!! He will not end that streak today – or any time soon. His promises are still good today!
In the midst of all the shattered dreams of 2020, where do you need to hold on to the promises of God? Have you let unbelief drift in and begin to crowd your heart. It becomes a slow, exhausting stranglehold of death to your heart and soul.
You must resist it. You must admit it. We must repent of our unbelief and turn from it. And remember the promises of God.
Prayer:
Father, I come before your throne in the name of Jesus. I humble myself before you in dependency and faith. I choose to come back to the place of faith this day. Forgive me for doubt and unbelief. I have let my heart and mind become crowded with silent whispers against you. I have doubted your were there, that you were able, that you cared for me. I remember today that you are a God who has never lied or never broken a promise while I am a simple broken and sinful human being who has broken hundreds of promises.
Forgive me Lord for not trusting you. I repent of my Doubt and Unbelief.
Lord I believe. Help my unbelief. I renounce a spirit of unbelief, and command it to flee from life. Lord fill me with Your Spirit, and release faith into my heart. believe that you are God and there is no other. I will trust in you. Amen.
Today:
- What promise of God in scripture do you need to remember today? Write it down, read it aloud a few times. Remember it. Pray it back to God and display it in a place you will see it for the next several days (Bathroom mirror, refrigerator, car dashboard).
- Is there a promise you need to keep to someone in your life – spouse, parent, child, friend, sibling, etc. Be faithful.
*** These Advent Devotionals are coordinating with Paul David Tripp’s book “O Come Let us Adore Him,” a 25 day Christmas/Advent Devotional Experience. Please find his book online or at a book seller near you.
David Yarborough 