Category: Daily Promises

Daily Promises – August 12 – The Gift of the Holy Spirit

Luke 11:13 KJV

13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children:
how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?


Promise #224: I will gladly give the Holy Spirit to those who will ask.The Holy Spirit is the very Spirit of both God the Father and God the Son. In Matthew 10:20, Jesus tells His disciples that when they are dragged before the courts, it will not be them speaking, but the Spirit of their Father. In Galatians 4:6, the Apostle Paul says that God has given us the Spirit of His Son whereby we cry Abba Father!

The Holy Spirit is the very essence of God’s heart and in this promise, Jesus declares that His Father loves to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask! Since God’s Spirit is the very core of who He is, He is giving us everything that He has when He pours out His Spirit on us! In Ephesians 5:18, the Apostle Paul instructs us not to be drunk on wine, but be filled with the Spirit!

The context of this verse is that being filled with the Spirit is not a one time event but is ongoing. We are called to continually be filled to overflow with God’s Holy Spirit. So my encouragement to you today is to simply ask God for a fresh infilling of His precious Spirit! Jesus says that He is a good Father and He delights to give us His Spirit when we ask.

So Father, we ask for MORE of your Holy Spirit today! Would you fill us afresh, would you pour out more of your love into our hearts through your precious Holy Spirit today (Romans 5:5). We open our hearts to you and we expect to receive because we are your kids and you delight to give us good gifts. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

~ Barry Adams
Photo by Barry Adams

Daily Promises – August 11 – God is our shield and our protector

Psalm 3:3 KJV

3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me;
my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.


Promise #223: I am your shield, your glory and the lifter of your head. The Hebrew word for shield in this promise is a substance so thick that it is likened unto the scaly hide of a crocodile. God is our shield and our protector. Nothing can get through His defences. Our God and Father is also our glory, which is a Hebrew word ‘kabowd’, which means a weighty honor that He places on us simply because we belong to Him.

I love the NLT Bible translation for this verse…  ‘3 But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.’  God protects us, He bestows His own glory on us, and He lifts up our head when we are discouraged. When I think of the last part of this promise, I picture a child standing face to face with his father, with his head held down in discouragement. The father not wanting his child to be discouraged, gently puts his finger on the little boy’s chin and raises his head until their eyes meet.When we get discouraged, our God and Father is the lifter of our head. As the NLT Bible says, He is ‘the one who holds my head high’. If you are disappointed today, may you feel the loving touch of your Father raising your head so that your eyes meet His loving glance.

~ Barry Adams

Daily Promises – August 10 – God is our security and safe place

Proverbs 14:26 KJV

26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence:
and his children shall have a place of refuge.


Promise #222: I will be your security and a safe place for your children.

The person who reveres the Lord has the confidence in knowing that God will be a place of safe for them and a place of refuge for their children. The NIV Bible says Proverbs 14:26 this way…  26 He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.

God is our secure fortress. Nothing can penetrate His walls. We are safe and secure in the center of His heart. While this is good news for us, it is a promise for our children as well. In a world that seems to always be on shaky ground, this is a promise that we can rely on.

For those of us who have children, this is a promise that we can claim for them! Our own three children are adults now and are dealing with the pressures of this world just like everybody else. While sometimes I wish I could protect them like I used to when they were young, I am encouraged to think that God is still their safe place, no matter what struggles they go through. May each one of us claim this promise for ourselves and our loved ones today!
Photo by James Jordan

Daily Promises – August 6 – Do not be afraid of what others can do to you

Psalm 56:11 KJV
11 In God have I put my trust:
I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

Promise #221: Trust in Me and do not be afraid of what others can do to you.

Fear of man is a powerful debilitating force in our world today. It will keep us from taking risks and it will keep us from being the person God made us to be.

If we are afraid of what others think, or what they will do to us, we are kept in a prison of their control.
God wants us to be free and He does not want us to live in fear.

The only way to deal with fear is to embrace the love that God has for us and allow perfect love to drive all fear away. (1 John 4:19)

Trust is the key. Knowing that our God and Father has our best interests at heart all the time.

In this promise, the psalmist makes a declaration that he will put his trust in God and not be afraid of what man can do to him. May faith rise up in our hearts today and agree with Romans 8:31, where the Apostle Paul declares “If God is for us, who can be against us?”. 

May each one of us grow in the incredible freedom of the children of God that we were intended to walk in and not live the place of being afraid.
Photo by Jeff Epp

Daily Promises – August 8 – Jesus will cleanse us from all sin

1 John 1:7 KJV
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Promise #220: If you walk in the light, the blood of My Son Jesus will cleanse you from all sin.

Jesus is called the Light of the World. In Him is no darkness, only brilliant, glorious light. The good news of the gospel is that when we receive the free gift of God, which is the life of His own Son, we are completely cleansed from all unrighteousness and forgiven from all our sin. We have become children of the light because we are now joined completely into the holy life of Jesus. Romans 8:1 says because of this exchange, there is therefore now no condemnation for us.

Our adversary the devil is called the accuser of the brethren. His aim is to continually bring accusations against us that would somehow cause us to feel ashamed and run and hide from God. When you hear these accusing voices, declare the finished work of the blood of Jesus over your life for it is the cleansing power of Jesus’ blood that keeps us walking in the light!

We have no need to hide in shame from God. Jesus Christ has secured our place in His Father’s heart and His blood has covered our past sins, our present sins and our future sins. You can rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ. When He cried it is finished! on the cross, He meant it. Does this mean that we can go on living  a sinful life? God forbid! However, we can rest assured that if we walk in the light as Jesus is in the light, His blood cleanses us from ALL sin.
Photo by Barry Adams

Daily Promises – August 7 – We can BOLDLY approach God

Ephesians 3:12 KJV
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

Promise #219: Through faith in Christ, you can boldly approach Me with confidence.

The NIV Bible says Ephesians 3:12 in this way… ‘In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.’ What a glorious promise! Through our new life in Jesus Christ, we have complete and unrestricted access to our heavenly Father. Though angels bow down in reverence to Almighty God, we can call Him our Abba. Though He holds the earth in the palm of His hand, He calls us His little ones.

Praise God for giving us an amazing salvation through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! In the great exchange that happened at the cross, Jesus exchanged His life for our life. We no longer live apart from Christ (Galatians 2:20), so being in Christ, we have full access to our Father just like Jesus does. As a matter of fact, in Colossians 3, Paul says that we actually are hid with Christ in God, seated in the heavens!

As a father, I would be disappointed if I felt that my children were afraid to come into my presence. They are my children after all! They are welcome any time, night or day! If we as dads are intended to be a shadow of the perfect Father (Matthew 5:48), how much more does He desire that we come boldly into His throne room with freedom and confidence?

May each one of us be encouraged today to come into our Papa’s presence with a new boldness. Not because of anything that we have done, but because our big brother, Jesus Christ, the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, has made the way for us to approach God with a confident expectation that He will receive us and put us on His lap, day or night.

~ Barry Adams

Daily Promises – August 6 – God has numbered each hair on our head

By Barry Adams

Matthew 10:30 KJV
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

 Promise #218: I have even numbered each hair on your head.

The entire context of this promise can be found in Matthew 10:29-31
29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. NIV Bible

In Matthew 10, Jesus is commissioning His disciples to go out into the world to proclaim the good news of the kingdom. Heal the sick, cast out devils and freely give what you freely receive. In the midst of His charge to go, Jesus does talk about the reality that they will encounter opposition to this message. There will even be those who will want to kill them for what they represent. But all the while, Jesus is encouraging them not to be afraid.

He goes on to tell them that though sparrows are insignificant in the eyes of men, Father God always keeps a watchful eye on them. Jesus encourages His disciples that they are worth more than many sparrows, so if God watches over the birds, He will watch over them! The source of much of worry and anxiety is fear. Fear is rooted in a feeling that we are on our own and we have to try and manage life by ourselves.

Jesus encourages us to not fear, but be reminded that we are not on our own, that we have a heavenly Father who loves us and is in control of our lives. He even has taken the time to number each one of the hairs on our heads! What detail! What involvement in our lives! We have nothing to fear when the God of the universe is for us and so intimately involved in our lives.

Knowing the Father’s love for us will not necessarily shield us from heartache, pain and suffering because Jesus did tell us that in the world we will have trouble. However, in the midst of all our struggles, He does promise to cast out all fear from our hearts! May each one of us go deeper into our Father’s love today, knowing that our worth to Him is far more than many sparrows and that He has taken the time to number each one of the hairs on our head.

Daily Promises – August 5 – God has cared for us from the moment we were born

Psalm 71:6 KJV

6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.


Promise #217: I have cared for you from the moment you were born.
In this Psalm David makes that declaration that it was actually God that took him out of his mother’s womb. The Message Bible, this verse says ‘I’ve hung on you from the day of my birth, the day you took me from the cradle;’.  The NIV Bible says ‘From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.’

What an amazing promise! Our God and Father was there on the day you were born! Many people carry around the feeling that their parents didn’t plan their birth, so they feel like they were an accident. This Bible promise says the exact opposite! Not one person who has ever been born has been a mistake! God planned each birth and was in the delivery room to welcome all of us into the world.

If you struggle to feel that you belong in this world, I pray that this promise will go deep into your heart. God knit you together in your mother’s womb and He has cared for you from the moment you were born until today.

And He will never stop caring for you because you are the apple of His eye!
Photo by Barry Adams

God’s love will cause even the worst situation to turn out for good

1 Chronicles 16:34 KJV
34 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good;
for his mercy endureth for ever.

Promise #216: I am good and My mercy is everlasting.

In the Garden of Eden, when Satan tempted Adam and Eve, he was primarily questioning the goodness of God. “Did God really say…” He tried to portray a view of God that was skewed and distorted.  That God was insecure and didn’t want the best for Adam and Eve. That God wasn’t good.

The enemy’s tactics have remained the same up until today. He continues to question the goodness of God at every turn. My encouragement to you today is to believe the truth about God and make a declaration to the heavens that He is really good and His love endures forever!

The love that God has for us will not change today, tomorrow or in eternity. It will endure forever! The very foundation of our God and Father’s heart is goodness and love. No matter what happens in life, I would encourage you to not side with the accuser and question your Father’s goodness. Our God is good and He is loving beyond comprehension.

In the midst of any storm that you are going through, His love will cause even the worst situation to turn for good (Romans 8:28). May faith rise up in our hearts to know this on a level that is deeper than we have ever known it before.
Photo by Carl Dyck

Daily Promises – August 3 – Trust in God’s Faithfulness

Psalm 33:4 KJV
4 For the word of the LORD is right;
and all his works are done in truth.

Promise #215: You can trust in My faithfulness because My Word is true.

If I would make a promise to my children and they would question the integrity of what I promised, that would hurt me deeply. As a father, it is my hope that my children would have confidence in my character and my word. If they doubted what I said, then I would feel that they question the very core of who I am. I believe that the foundation of any relationship is trust. If there is no trust, then the relationship is on shaking ground.

In today’s promise, the Psalmist is singing praises to God and makes the declaration that the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. The NLT Bibles says Psalm 33:4 this way… For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.

If we struggle to believe that God’s word is true and we cannot trust Him completely, then we are in effect doubting God’s very character. Every time we question God’s Word or His goodness, we are agreeing with the Father of Lies and the continual accusations he brings against God. Just as this would hurt an earthly father, I believe that it deeply grieves the Father of Lights.

The Bible says in Hebrews 11:6 that without faith, it is impossible to please God. I believe that our God and Father loves it when His kids simply believe every word He says… Just like a little child believes everything their mom or dad has to say to them.

My prayer today is that Holy Spirit would make us aware of the unbelieving thoughts that come into our mind and we would break any power of agreement with them, for the Word of the LORD is right and we can trust everything that He does!

Daily Promises – August 2 – The Kings belong to God

(My Note: The last few weeks have been nerve-wracking, at best. Those of us who depend on Social Security, the military, and any others who were threatened that we might not get our checks tomorrow or later this month, or anyone who may feel any other repercussion of this situation, were tested as to how strong our faith is.

Knowing that God is the King of all the earth, knowing that He allows all of the things to happen around us, and that He will carry us through it is where our only sure Hope lies.

The world truly is shaking around us.   But we know He will carry us through this crisis.

We know He wants no harm to come to us.

He promises that all will work out for our good.

Holding onto Him during this time of potential financial crisis is our real comfort.

We all should feel that we are truly blessed to know, as well as feel, His constant presence.)

Psalm 47:7-9 KJV
7 For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. 8 God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. 9 The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.

Promise #214: I rule the earth and all the kings belong to Me.God is the King of all the earth. Jesus is proclaimed as the King of kings and the Lord of lords. There is no disputing the absolute and complete power of the living God. He is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. While our adversary the devil, has limited power for a short season as the prince of the power of the air, the earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it!When everything around us seems to be shaken… Wars, economies, governments, etc., have no fear! God is seated in the heavens and He rules the earth. May we rise up and worship Him today for His goodness and His mercy and His majesty!Hollywood often projects the battle of good versus evil as two equal, opposing forces clashing for victory. The truth is that our God is all powerful and ever present. He is so huge, that the universe cannot contain Him. We are not locked in a battle between good and evil that has an uncertain outcome. We win! Jesus has already declared the victory through His death and resurrection!

While we know that in this world we will have trouble, may each one of us be encouraged today in knowing that Jesus has overcome the world and that our heavenly Dad is the God and Father over all creation (Ephesians 4:4-6).

Daily Promises – August 1 – No excuse for not knowing God is real

(Note: As you are aware, I don’t add a lot of notes. The messages I find are generally so self-sufficient, adding to them is not required. However, because of what just happened to me, I wanted to share with you.

I usually read through a complete message, and then decide how to title it. This time, I looked at the picture, immediately thought of Romans 1:20, and made up the title before reading the message.

If there ever was a confirmation that God was in a title, this shows it.

I love it when He let’s me know I’m on the right track in my thinking.

It thrills me.

Our goal is to always been on the same page with Him.

Isn’t God cute?

It’s the little things, huh?)

Psalm 19:1 KJV
The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Promise #213: The heavens declare My glory and reveal My handiwork.In Romans 1:20 in the NLT Bible it says…
20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. (NLT)Nature is continually revealing the character and nature of God. Every tree, every stream, every animal on the face of the planet bears witness to the glory and majesty of the Triune God. There is simply no excuse. Nature proves not only that God exists, but that He is kind and gracious to all that He has made.I love this photo of the northern lights in Canada. What an amazing display of the glory of God! Today’s promise simply states that the heavens declare His glory and the skies show off His handiwork. My prayer for all of us today is that there will be a heightened awareness to the eternal power of God that is clearly displayed in the world around us. The next time you look at a sunrise or sunset, or billowing clouds, or a clear starry night, may the love of God overwhelm you and may you see His glory revealed through all that He has created.
Photo by Carl Dyck

Daily Promises – July 31 – God’s Promises are True

Numbers 23:19 KJV
19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent:
hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Promise #212: Every promise that I make is true for I do not lie or change My mind.

In today’s promise, Numbers 23:19 clearly tells us that God is not a man, that he should lie. One of the problems that we have relating to God is the ability to trust Him completely. The reason why we struggle to trust him is that we have learned from life’s experiences that people do not always keep their promises.

While I don’t think we intentionally make the same assumptions about God, there is something in the human heart that can sometimes project onto God the same disappointments that we have experienced with people close to us. Because God says that He is the perfect Father, many times we can assume that God will treat us just like our earthly fathers did. If we struggled to trust our parents, then we may struggle to trust God.

But this promise clearly says that God is not like any person on earth. He does not lie or change His mind. Every promise that He makes is completely and absolutely true! The work that God has called us to is to simply believe that He is who He says He is. May faith rise up in our hearts today that cries out ‘Yes and Amen!’ to every promise that God makes! He is true! He is faithful! …And He always keeps His promises.
Photo by Mark Gyde

Daily Promises – July 30

Revelation 22:4 KJV
 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

Promise #211: One day, you will see My face and My name will be on your forehead.

In the book of Genesis, the story begins with our God and Father creating the heavens and the earth and all that is in it. In the book of Revelation, the Bible ends with the promise that we will see God face to face and His name will be written on our foreheads.  What an amazing hope that we all have to look forward to.

In the Old Testament, no man could see God and live. When we get to heaven, we will be able to look face to face into His loving eyes and have His name imprinted upon us.  I pray that God will open the eyes of our hearts today so that by faith we will be able to look forward to that day when He will wipe all our tears away.

This is our destiny. This is where we are headed if we have received the free gift of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ’s life. We have nothing to fear. We have nothing to dread. Just an eternity of glorious bliss, gazing into the eyes of the One who loved us before the creation of the world. Hallelujah!
Photo by Barry Adams

Daily Promises – July 29

1 John 3:2 KJV
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:
but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

 Promise #210: You are My children now, and you will be just like Jesus when He appears.

When Jesus returns, we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is. This Scripture tells us that at this point, we don’t know what that will look like. All we know is that when we fix our eyes on Jesus, there will be a final transformation that will take place to conform us into His image completely.

While this promise gives us hope for the future, it also speaks directly into our present situation. The Apostle John encourages us that we are sons of God now! We do not have to wait until we see Jesus face to face to experience the tangible reality of being God’s kids. We are His children now, and one day, we will see all of the human trappings of our flesh consumed in the fire of the presence of Jesus when we see him face to face.

But until then, we have an amazing promise that we are already the children of God right now! May each one of us be able to see with our spiritual eyes today that the promise of God is not only for the future, but for the present.

Photo by Barry Adams

Daily Promises – July 28 – When all around us is shaking

Revelation 3:12 KJV
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Promise #209: Those who overcome will be made pillars in My temple forever.

The Bible says that life is but a vapor. The span of a person’s life is but a twinkle of the eye in the perspective of all eternity. That is why it is so important for us to have an eternal mindset rather than a temporal one. In 2 Corinthians 4:18, the NIV Bible says … 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (NIV)

When the pressures of life get too much. When the worries of an uncertain future cloud our thought life. When we are discouraged with the circumstances around us. No matter what situation you find yourself in today, take a moment, and think about eternity.  In today’s Scripture, Jesus Himself, promises that He is going to make us as pillars in the temple of His God forever and write on each one of us a new name!

When all around us begins to shake, be encouraged that God is giving us a kingdom that cannot be shaken. One day, all those who belong to Jesus will stand firm forever in the city of our God, the New Jerusalem!
Photo by Mark Gyde

Daily Promises – July 27 – God will take care of you

Matthew 6:25-26 KJV
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?


Promise #208: Don’t worry, I will take care of you.

This is a relatively short promise compared to the lengthy corresponding Bible text. But if you look at the simple message that Jesus is saying, the promise is short and sweet. When I was growing up, I was taught that worry was a sign of being responsible. If I didn’t worry, then I didn’t care.

As I get older, I am learning that many of the things that I was told were actually not the truth. Worry is not helpful to us. Worry is not a sign of responsibility. While worry cannot extend our lives, studies show that it can shorten our lives because over 70% of illnesses are stress related. This only goes to show that our bodies were not created to deal with a lot of stress.

Jesus encourages us to ‘take no thought for our life’…period. The reason why we don’t have to worry is because we have a Father in heaven who has promised to take care of us all of the days of our lives. In this passage of Scripture, Jesus tells how His Father cares for the birds of the air who do not sow or reap or store into barns. He then asks the question… How much more valuable are you than the birds?

Worry is a sign that we are not yet convinced of our value to God. Don’t worry about how much you worry though! Just ask God to give you a deeper revelation of your worth to Him. Fathers provide for their children. Children don’t have to beg for their provision, they can just rest in the knowledge that they are being cared for by a loving Dad. Don’t worry… God will take care of you!
Photo by Jeff Epp

Daily Promises – July 26

Psalm 86:7 KJV
7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee:
for thou wilt answer me.

Promise: When problems arise, call to Me and I will answer you.
Jesus told us that in the world, we would have trouble. He went on to encourage us that we could be cheerful because He had overcome the world. In this Psalm, David is calling out to God to help him. David is aware of the many promises that God made to Israel and was confident that when trouble came, God would answer him.

Sometimes I think that God is there for the really big problems, but He is leaving me to my own resources for the little problems that pop up in every day life. I believe that God is ready, willing and able to help me in whatever problems I face today. Big or small. He promised to be a Father to me (2 Corinthians 6:18) and fathers are there for their children all the time. Whatever trouble you might face today, be encouraged in knowing that when problems do arise, you can call out to your heavenly Father and He will answer you.
Photo by Barry Adams

Daily Promises – July 25

Deuteronomy 4:7 KJV
7 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them,
as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?

Promise: I am near to you whenever you cry out.
In this particular Bible verse, the nation of Israel is marvelling that there is no other nation on the earth that has a God that is so close to them that He is near whenever they cry out. What an advantage over every other nation of the day! They worshipped a God who was near and attentive to the cries of His people.

And that was the Old Covenant relationship with God. In the New Covenant, God is even closer! He lives within those who have accepted the free gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. We are the very temple of the living God! He is closer to each one of us that we could possibly imagine.  My prayer today is that each one of us would be aware of the tangible presence that dwells within us and that we would know that our God is really close to us when we cry out to Him.
Photo by Jeff Epp

How should I pray?

 

For days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.

Nehemiah 1:4 NLT

Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven.
Give us our food for today, and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Matthew 6:9-13 NLT

Aligning my will to God’s

E. Stanley Jones described the effect of prayer on us like this:

Prayer is not pulling God to my will, but the aligning of my will to the will of God. Aligned to God’s redemptive will, anything, everything can happen in character, conduct, and creativeness. The whole person is heightened by that prayer contact. In that contact I find health for my body, illumination for my mind, and moral and spiritual reinforcement for my soul. “Prayer is a time exposure to God,” so I expose myself to God for an hour and a half or two hours a day, asking less and less for things and more and more for Himself. For having Him, I have everything. He gives me what I need for character, conduct, and creativeness, so I’m rich with His riches, strong in His strength, pure in His purity, and able in His ability.

quoted by R. Kent Hughes in 1001 Great Stories and Quotes (Tyndale House) p 326

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

How is your prayer life?

Our prayers bring us into God’s presence.

 

The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness. The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him sincerely. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them.

Psalm 145:17-19 NLT

Then Saul said, “Let’s chase the Philistines all night and destroy every last one of them.” His men replied, “We’ll do whatever you think is best.” But the priest said, “Let’s ask God first.”

1 Samuel 14:36 NLT

The next morning Jesus awoke long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray.

Mark 1:35 NLT

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT

About this promise

The most universally practiced yet least understood of human experiences, prayer is one of the great mysteries of the Christian faith. Its simplest definition is communication with God. Yet so often we approach prayer like a one-way telephone conversation, forgetting that God also wants to speak to us. Prayer appears nearly on every page of the Bible as the very essence of a faith relationship with the living God.

From the TouchPoint Bible (Tyndale House) p 1246

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

How can I deal with feelings of hopelessness?

 

“The truth is that you will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Jeremiah 29:10-11 NLT

A future and a hope

Jeremiah 29:11 is a favorite verse of many, but it comes in a context that may add even greater meaning.

It appears in the middle of the prophet’s announcement. The people of Israel were going to spend a long exile away from their homeland — 70 years — as God’s discipline. After that, God would return them to the land. In other words, God had a plan for their future.

Our sinfulness often leads to dismal situations and feelings of despair. But we must always remember that hopelessness does not come from God. God is the author of hope. Even the Exile, with its seeming hopelessness, was part of God’s long-range plan for his people. And his plans were good.

If you are facing hopelessness, you may be inheriting the results of some other person’s sinful decisions and actions. Or you may be reaping your own bad rewards. You may not have really discovered the hope that is found in God’s love for you through Jesus Christ. Reject despair and seek out God’s plan — and his hopes — for you.

Adapted from the TouchPoint Bible
(Tyndale House) p 660

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

Daily Promises – July 24

Hebrews 4:9-10 KJV
9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

Promise: If you enter into My rest, you will find rest from all your striving.
One thing that marks the orphan world system that we live in is the absense of the ability to rest. Busy, busy, busy. There is so much to do and too little time to do it. Rushing from work to home, rushing from home to work. Rushing to do the groceries, driving the kids to sports, going to church, etc. Throw in the thousands of media messages that we all get bombarded with every day. Busy, busy, busy.

It is exhausting just thinking about it. God is calling each one of us into a deep Sabbath rest in the very core of our being. While on the outside this might appear like pure inactivity and therefore unproductive, I believe the very opposite is true. When we allow ourselves to come into a place in our hearts where we cease from our own works, we are demonstrating in a very practical way that we are relying on God to work on our behalf.

This very real form of trust moves the heart of our heavenly Dad in a way that nothing else can. As long as we try to do all the work ourselves, carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders, we will be trying to do the work in our own strength. When we come to a place where we can slow down in our hearts and quiet the busyness that resides in the depths of our soul, we will find the Prince of Peace waiting for us to join Him.

Sure work needs to get done, groceries need to get bought, kids need to be driven to their various activities. But I believe it is our Papa’s heart that we enter into a deep Sabbath rest in our hearts where we cease from our own striving and join Him in His rest. May God give each one of us wisdom today to show us how we can labor to enter into that place of rest.
Photo by Steve Taylor

Daily Promises – July 23

Isaiah 58:7-8 KJV
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? 8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward.

Promise: If you share with the needy, My glory will guard your back.
God’s heart is always for the poor and those who are in need. It is simply a foundational part of the heart of God. He protects the widows and the orphans. He says that the poor of this world are called to inherit the riches of His everlasting kingdom.

In this promise, God says that if we look after the needs of the poor and our own family, there are many benefits that will come our way. Our light will break forth like the dawn, healing will quickly appear, righteousness will go before us, and the glory of the Lord will be our rear guard. (NIV) I love how the NLT Bible says verse 8… 8 “Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. (NLT)

God’s heart is always for the underdog. He is always thinking of those who are need. When we really connect to the heart of our God and Father, we will share His concern for those around us. The stronger His heart beat becomes in us, the more we will share what we have with others and the more His glory will guard our back. May each one of us become more aware of the immediate needs of those around us today.
Photo by Barry Adams

Daily Promises – July 21

 

Jeremiah 30:17 KJV
17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds,
saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying,
This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.

Promise: I will restore your health and heal all your hurts.
In this fallen orphan world that we live in, sickness is part of every day life. We all know someone who is struggling with some form of infirmity, or we ourselves may be struggling. When Jesus taught us to pray the Lord’s Prayer, He said for us to ask our Father to bring His kingdom to this world. Since there is no sickness in heaven, we can receive comfort in knowing that healing is part of the good news of the gospel.

In today’s promise, God promises to restore health to our bodies and to bring healing to all our wounds. How the fulfillment of that promise applies to us personally is as unique as each one of us is different. God’s ways are not our ways and the fulfillment of this promise is tailored uniquely to our own circumstance.

Personally, I have suffered partial deafness as a result of a childhood ear infection. I can’t count the number of times that I have received prayer for healing. While the healing has not yet manifested itself, I still hold on to the promise that God is faithful and healing is part of the New Covenant bought and paid for by Jesus Christ.

Though there are times when I feel disappointment for not yet receiving my healing, I continue to open up my heart for more prayer. Sometimes that feeling of disappointment can open the door to disillusionment about healing. It is times like this that I need healing of the wounds of my soul. In Jeremiah 30:17, God promises to bring health to our bodies and healing to all the wounds we suffer in our heart.  I pray that whatever your circumstance is today, that faith would rise up in your heart and you would believe God for the healing you need for both your body and your soul.
Photo by Barry Adams

Daily Promises – July 20

Psalm 30:11 KJV
11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing:
thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness.

Promise: I will turn your mourning into dancing and surround you with joy.

We all struggle with grief at one time or another in life. We lose those we love. We suffer the loss of many things. In a life that ebbs and flows, there are seasons of mourning and seasons of dancing. In Ecclesiastes we read that there is a season for all things. The promise for today acknowledges there is a season for grieving in our lives but it also points to the time when our God and Father will turn that season of mourning into a season of dancing. It is God Himself who will throw off our clothes of sadness and clothes us with joy!In times of grief and heartbreak, God promises to be close to us. So if you are in that season, allow the love of God to fill your soul and carry you in your weakest moment. But be encouraged, that there is a time coming when God Himself will turn your mourning into dancing and will surround you with His own joy.
Photo by Jeff Epp

Daily Promises – July 19

 

Ephesians 6:11 KJV
11 Put on the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Promise: My armor will help you stand against the plans of the enemy.

In Ephesians 6, Paul the Apostle exhorts the church at Ephesus to put on the full armor of God in order to be able to stand against the tricks of the enemy. It is interesting to note that the armor does not belong to us, but it belongs to God. It is His armor.

He has given us His helmet of salvation to guard our mind and give us peace. He has given us His breastplate of righteousness to protect our heart. He has given us His belt of truth so that we would know the truth and the truth would set us free. He has prepared our feet with shoes of peace so we can proclaim the good news wherever we go. He has given us His shield of faith so that when we lift it up, we quench all of the fiery arrows from the enemy.

And last but not least, He has given us an offensive weapon, the sword of the Spirit, the very Word of God so we can advance the kingdom. Our God and Father has given us everything we need to live a godly life through Jesus Christ our Lord. We stand in His armor, His power, His protection… not our own. So having done all to stand in the power of God’s might, continue to stand today.
Photo by Barry Adams

Note: I was amazed at the new understanding that this author relates. It is much of a relief to know that God has us covered. We just choose to let Him handle everything. It’s our willingness to put on God’s armor that He is interested in.

Daily Promises – July 18

Psalm 5:11 KJV
11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

Promise: I will blanket My protection over all who trust in Me.

In the NLT & NIV Bible versions of this verse, the psalmist asks God to ‘spread His protection over them‘. The Amplified Bible says ‘make a covering over them’. When I think of this promise, I imagine that Papa God spreads a huge canopy, a nice warm comforting blanket over us that provides warmth, protection and shelter all the days of our life.

The knowledge of a loving God that is brooding over us and protecting us will cause us to trust Him even more and fill us to overflowing with unspeakable joy. I chose this particular photo of cloud cover to remind me that just as the clouds can shield us from the heat of the sun’s rays, so God’s love covers us and shields us from the harshness that life can bring our way.  May each one of us snuggle under the blanket of God’s protecting love today and may our hearts be filled with joy knowing that we are safe and secure today and for the rest of our lives.
Photo by Barry Adams

Daily Promises – July 17

Psalm 138:7 KJV
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth
thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.

Promise: I will save you in the midst of your troubles.I took the photo for this promise at the Horshoe Falls in Niagara Falls, Canada. I chose this particular photo because it represents an overwhelming sense of being surrounded by an unstoppable, never-ending power. I imagine being in the center of this torrent of water while I am engulfed by the power of the rushing water around me.

In this promise, the psalmist declares that though he walks in the midst of trouble, God’s right hand will reach out and save him from his enemies. God is mighty to save us and will quiet us with His love (Zephaniah 3:17). We can rest in this. No matter what your circumstances are, no matter how insurmountable the odds, God promises to save you in the very midst of your troubles!

My encouragement today is for you to lean into your heavenly Father’s comforting breast, feel His big strong arms wrap around you just like the rushing waters of Niagara Falls and watch Him come to your rescue. That is what fathers do. They protect their children in the midst of their troubles. God really is the best Dad ever and He will reach out with His mighty right hand and save you in the midst of every circumstance.
Photo by Barry Adams

His Perfect Love will banish fear from your heart

1 John 4:18 KJV
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:
because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Promise: My perfect love will banish fear from your heart.According to the Strong’s Concordance, the Greek word for ‘perfect’ is complete. Imagine a love that is complete in every way. The love of a father, the love of a mother, the love of a friend, the love of a brother, the love of a spouse, etc. Whatever love we need, the true source is found in the completeness of God’s love.In this passage, the word for love used here is the Greek word ‘agape‘, which often describes the love that comes from God. In 1 John 4:16, God Himself is described as the complete expression of love and then two verses later the Apostle John says that God’s perfect love will violently throw out all fear from our hearts. The root of worry is fear. The root of insecurity is fear. Fear of man, fear of the future, fear of the present, fear of lack, etc.  There are many things in this world that cause us to be afraid but God continually is telling His kids “Do not fear!”I believe He says it 365 times in the Bible, one encouragement for every day of the year! What an amazing promise! Fear cannot co-habit with love. When love comes, fear is banished forever! God is love.  Whoever lives in love, lives in God!

Today, allow the perfect, complete love that flows from the heart of Almighty God to fill your heart to overflowing and fear will have no option but to flee in response.

Daily Promises – July 15

Nehemiah 8:10 KJV
10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet,
and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord:
neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

Promise: Do not be sad for My joy is your strength.

In this passage of Scripture, Israel had assembled to listen to the Word of the Lord. It sounds like it was a very intense time and people were weeping in such a solemn assembly. No doubt they might have been surprised when they heard the Lord’s encouragement for them not to be sad, but to rely on the joy of the Lord to find their true strength.

The word strength here in the Hebrew means a fortified place, a fort, a rock, a strong hold from the Strong’s Concordance. Just think of it…the joy of the Lord is your personal fortress! Whenever you are faced with sadness, run into the strong hold of the Lord’s joy and that is where you will find your strength.

God is filled with joy! Joy is one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The kingdom of God is described as righteousness, peace and joy. Jesus said that He came that our joy might be full. In His presence is fullness of joy! The joy of the Lord is our unshakeable strong hold in the midst of a world that is continually being shaken. No matter what comes your way in life, take refuge in Papa God’s joy over you today. It is a safe place where you can live forever!

Photo by Barry Adams

Daily Promises – July 14

Psalm 28:9 KJV
9 Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance:
feed them also, and lift them up for ever.

Promise #195: I will shepherd My inheritance and carry them forever.

In this Bible verse, David is crying out for God to save His people, bless His inheritance, feed them and lift them up for ever. In the NIV and NLT versions, he cries out for God to be their shepherd and carry them for ever. We know that David was a man after God’s own heart. As a boy, David learned a thing or two about the heart of a shepherd. In this Scripture passage, David is acknowledging that God is the ultimate Shepherd who has promised to feed His people and carry them in His arms forever! In Isaiah 40:11, there is an amazing picture of God as a loving shepherd…  11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. (NIV Bible) In Psalm 23, David takes time to describe the many benefits of being shepherded by the living God.  Whatever challenges you are facing in your life today, be comforted in knowing that God has promised to shepherd you, bless you, feed you and carry you forever!
Photo by Barry Adams

Daily Promises – July 13

 

Philippians 4:19 KJV
19 But my God shall supply all your need
according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.


Promise: I will meet your every need through My eternal riches in Jesus Christ.

Our God and Father has promised to meet our every need according to the vast riches in the glorious storehouse of heaven that is in Jesus Christ. In an orphan world system that makes people feel all alone and responsible to claw and scratch for everything they get, this is really good news!

Our God knows what we need before we need it and He delights to provide for us what we need…when we need it. Whether a felt need or a spiritual one, our heavenly Dad is a Father who provides for His kids. In this particular passage, Paul is writing to the Philippians and is thanking them for the gift that they sent to help further the work of the kingdom.

Paul is encouraging them that as they have been obedient to share what they have, God will continue to pour in heaven’s resources when they need it. While we may not have an ample bank account stored up on earth, we can rest in the fact that we have access to the true eternal riches that are stored up in heaven for us through the glorious riches in our elder brother, Jesus Christ.
Photo by Steve Taylor

Daily Promises – July 12

Jeremiah 31:33 KJV
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Daily Promises – July 6 (Please read the whole message)

(Note: I was a bit edgy when I posted this daily promise, because it didn’t feel right to me. So I looked up the verse in the NKJV, in its context. I would admonish us all to be aware of what the Holy Spirit’s job is…to lead us into all truth. The whole truth. And to be careful what we say, how we say it, and make sure that it is not misleading. I really liked the concept of the Lord healing all of our diseases, but as we see, people are not necessarily healed here on the earth. We are healed, fully, when we get to heaven. So . . . read the scripture in it’s entirety. Let’s discuss the meaning. My understanding is that there are conditions to his promise. I will be thinking and praying about these verses, and as the Holy Spirit leads me, I will add any new understanding that God gives me.)

New King James Version (NKJV)

Exodus 15

The Song of Moses

1 Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying:

“I will sing to the LORD,
For He has triumphed gloriously!
The horse and its rider
He has thrown into the sea!

2 The LORD is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation;
He is my God, and I will praise Him;
My father’s God, and I will exalt Him.

3 The LORD is a man of war;
The LORD is His name.

4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea;
His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea.

5 The depths have covered them;
They sank to the bottom like a stone.

6 “Your right hand, O LORD, has become glorious in power;
Your right hand, O LORD, has dashed the enemy in pieces.

7 And in the greatness of Your excellence
You have overthrown those who rose against You;
You sent forth Your wrath;
It consumed them like stubble.

8 And with the blast of Your nostrils
The waters were gathered together;
The floods stood upright like a heap;
The depths congealed in the heart of the sea.

9 The enemy said, ‘I will pursue,
I will overtake,
I will divide the spoil;
My desire shall be satisfied on them.
I will draw my sword,
My hand shall destroy them.’

10 You blew with Your wind,
The sea covered them;
They sank like lead in the mighty waters.

11 “Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods?
Who is like You, glorious in holiness,
Fearful in praises, doing wonders?

12 You stretched out Your right hand;
The earth swallowed them.

13 You in Your mercy have led forth
The people whom You have redeemed;
You have guided them in Your strength
To Your holy habitation.

14 “The people will hear and be afraid;
Sorrow will take hold of the inhabitants of Philistia.

15 Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed;
The mighty men of Moab,
Trembling will take hold of them;
All the inhabitants of Canaan will melt away.

16 Fear and dread will fall on them;
By the greatness of Your arm
They will be as still as a stone,
Till Your people pass over, O LORD,
Till the people pass over
Whom You have purchased.

17 You will bring them in and plant them
In the mountain of Your inheritance,
In the place, O LORD, which You have made
For Your own dwelling,
The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established.

18 “The LORD shall reign forever and ever.”
19 For the horses of Pharaoh went with his chariots and his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought back the waters of the sea upon them. But the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.

The Song of Miriam

20 Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 21 And Miriam answered them:

“Sing to the LORD,
For He has triumphed gloriously!
The horse and its rider
He has thrown into the sea!”

Bitter Waters Made Sweet

22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. 23 Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah.[a] 24 And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” 25 So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet.
There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, 26 and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.”
27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters.