16 May 2023 – Owning the promises of God

God’s promises are not dependent on our circumstances. In fact, when things are difficult, we have to make God’s promises our own. It is the promises of God that build our faith in difficult times. Is it our guarantee that God will come through for us.

2 Corinthians 1:20-22 (MSG) Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete.
2 Corinthians 1:20 (NIV) For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.

What hinders Ownership?

Double-mindedness/unbelief – James 1:2-8 (Voice) Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line—mature, complete, and wanting nothing. If you don’t have all the wisdom needed for this journey, then all you have to do is ask God for it; and God will grant all that you need. He gives lavishly and never scolds you for asking. The key is that your request be anchored by your single-minded commitment to God. Those who depend only on their own judgment are like those lost on the seas, carried away by any wave or picked up by any wind. Those adrift on their own wisdom shouldn’t assume the Lord will rescue them or bring them anything. The splinter of divided loyalty shatters your compass and leaves you dizzy and confused.

I conclude with “Getting started is the easy part. The difficult part is the struggle to keep going when you are not motivated. Get back up because it takes commitment, discipline, and sacrifice to get to where you are trying to go.” ― Germany Kent