Promises

For "Heard it on Sunday, Use it on Monday"...

Actually, I heard this on Saturday night.  I was at a very dear friend's rehearsal dinner last night.  It was a sweet experience for me.  As I looked around the room I saw faces that have marked my life over the last fifteen+ years.  I grew up with these friends.  In fact, in many cases, I grew up because of these friends.  I thanked God a lot last night.

One of my thankful moments happened when I stole away with a former mentor of mine.  We haven't talked in over a year, so we had a lot of catching up to do.  At one point, she mentioned a season in her life during which God had spoken specific promises to her.  When it seemed as if there was no hope and everything was lost, He spoke hope into her life.  As she put it, "at that time, no one else was hearing any promise, but I was and I knew it would be okay."  She concluded by telling me that another mutual friend had recently asked her:

"Do you hear God speaking any promises right now?"

That is what I "heard on Sunday" - that phrase has been ringing in my ears since last night.  Do you hear God speaking any promises right now?

It's been a while since I asked God for a promise from Him.  I've asked Him for assurances, explanations, words, scriptures, insight, revelation, and gifts (patience, mercy, love, and more).  But I haven't asked for a promise or promises.  And I didn't ask last night.

Yet, when I woke up to have quiet time this morning, He was standing before me with one in hand.  As if He had orchestrated that brief interaction last night to get my attention, so I wouldn't miss it when He spoke.

This morning I had a lot of questions for Him.  I journaled them all.  They were specific.  I journaled primarily to get them out of me so that I could empty myself and try to hear His voice.  I wasn't in the mindset to actually receive answers.  I just wanted to be able to look where He was looking and see what He was seeing, instead of all the preoccupations running through my mind.

He and I spent time togther and it was sweet, but I closed my journal before He was finished.  As I reached to put my journal away I heard Him say clearly, 1 Corinthians 1:9.

"Huh?" I asked.

"Just go check it out," He replied.

I opened my Bible:

"God will do this, for He is faithful to do what He says, and He has invited you into partnership with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."  (New Living Translation)

He then spoke specific promises in answer to some of my specific questions.  I was...humbled.  And excited.  And left to encourage you: are there places in your own life God might want to speak His promises into? 

A promise is a powerful thing.  It creates a bond between the giver and receiver: the giver commits himself and the receiver chooses to trust, to live in hope.  The two parties become inextricably tied together.

God's promises to His people are all over the Bible - to individuals, to groups - and they are always fulfilled.

What would God promise you today?  I encourage you to seek Him today and ask if there's something specific He wants you to hope for, to wait on, to expect.

(Be sure to stop by Nebraska Graceful today for the link up!)