As we have established in the last weeks, God makes promises to us as believers. The Bible records over 8000 promises and is a treasure trove of blessing that we receive as believers in Christ. When God makes promises He is more than able to fulfil His promises and unlike the world around us, keeps His promises.
Different Kind of Promises
Looking more carefully at the nature of God’s promises, we will see that God makes general promises to all believers. When these promises are embraced by faith in our hearts, they become our promises that we trust and believe in our journey of faith. These broad assurances that God gives us as believers can remain broad for us, but when they become the fabric of our faith they become less out there and more real to where I am right now. This is when general promises become specific to us.
God also makes unconditional promises where the fulfilment of that promise is totally dependent on God. For example, Gen 9:11 where God promised never again to destroy the entire earth by flood
In the bible there are also specific promises made to certain individuals like the promise made to Abraham that he would receive land and many decedents. To David, God promised an eternal dynasty, a descendant who would rule forever, and a lasting kingdom. Daniel was promised God’s presence and guidance during times of exile and persecution, as well as eventual restoration and hope.
God also made conditional promises like the one He made to Israel in Deut 28, that He would bless and protect them if they obeyed Him. Conditional promises are dependent on certain actions or attitudes from the individual, like repentance or fatih. For example, Jesus links forgiveness to forgiving others in Matthew 6:14-15 and the promise of answered prayer in John 15:7 is conditional on abiding in Him.
Often these conditional promises and “if” and “then” statements built in them. For example, in James 1:5-7 it tells us that if we request wisdom from God by asking in faith without doubting Him, then He will give it generously. And in Matthew 6:32-33, Jesus promises that if we seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness, then everything we need will be provided.
Conditional promises like this require a work in our heart that unlocks the door to the fulfilment of the promise.
What Does God Say to Us in His Promises
Experts believe that there are over 8000 promises for humankind in the bible and then that depends on how you define the promise, but most promises fall into certain categories of what God is saying to us. Here is my list of the categories of promises which I have made as statements of what God is saying to us.
I will always love you- I will always be with you
- I will protect you from sin, death, fear, darkness and evil
- I will guard your future
- I will provide for you in every way
- I will give you peace
- I will give you strength
- I will have a relationship with you
- I will rule as your King in all circumstances
I took a list of 100 promises from scripture and decided to group them into what God was saying to me. It was a worthwhile exercise for me, because it highlighted what God has actually said to me and made me question if I believe each one of these statements.
- You see, it is one thing knowing the promises of God and giving intellectual assent to them, but quite a different thing taking Him at His word and then living it out.
- When promises become part of our faith, an expression of what we really believe, it triggers their fulfilment and their power. For example, if God says He loves me in countless scriptures, do I believe it and consequently think, behave and speak as one who is loved by God. Is there an outward expression of believing this promise, even though there may be days I don’t feel it. Do I choose to live it out in faith, even though it may not be how I am feeling?
When I believe that God loves me as scripture says, I start living accordingly, which releases power in my life to find healing, particularly in how I see myself and eventually come to a point to embrace His love for me.
Living by God’s promises can bring about positive change in a person’s life, leading to greater hope, peace, and a deeper relationship with God.
It really is a treasure of blessing.
Thank you, Lord, for the many promises that You give us which are ours to embrace should we choose to believe. When I look at all that you are saying to me in your promises, I realise that You are a good God who wants good things for me. Your promises offer assurance, hope and a fulfilling life in alignment with your will. Help me to work through the promises and become more familiar with them, so that they become part of the fabric of my faith and can carry me through the challenges and difficulties I face in this life.
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