December 02 | Promises
Genesis 15:1-6 (NIV)
After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:
“Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield,
your very great reward.”
2 But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”
4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
God’s word is full of promises. I was taught at a young age that when I faced difficulties, I should look in God’s word and find the promises/verses that applied to my situation. I would write them down and then saturate my mind with those promises whether I felt like reading them or not.
God promised Abram an heir. From that heir, God promised him that his offspring would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. Abram had to wait a long time for that promise to be fulfilled. It seemed hopeless at times that God would honor His promise. But, despite the length of time and the impossibility of the situation, “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”
From Abram/Abraham’s descendants came God’s greatest promise; His son Jesus. This Christmas as you celebrate His birth, remind yourself of all of the promises that God has fulfilled for you in your life. If you don’t know Jesus as your Savior, all you have to do is stand on God’s promise of salvation (Romans 10:9).
I have experienced God’s faithfulness to His promises over and over in my life. God always keeps His promises (Psalm 145:13b). He has never failed me yet. Stand on His word!
~Heather Philhower