Promises about Loving God

The most important command is this: ... Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. Mark 12:29-30

Promises about Praying to God

"Pray without ceasing"

Do this. Change your definition of prayer. Think of prayers less as an activity for God and more as an awareness of God. Seek to live in uninterrupted awareness. Acknowledge his presence everywhere you go. As you stand in line to register your car, think, Thank you, Lord, for being here. In the grocery as you shop, Your presence, My King, I welcome. As you wash the dishes, worship your Maker.

Promises about Obeying God

I have obeyed my Father's commands, and I remain in his love. In the same way, if you obey my commands, you will remain in my love. I have told you these things so that you can have the same joy I have and so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy. John 15:10-11

OBEY = JOY

Compared to God's part, our part is minuscule but necessary. We don't have to do much, but we do have to do something.

Write a letter.
Ask forgiveness.
Call a counselor.
Confess.
Call mom.
Visit a doctor.
Be baptized.
Feed a hungry person.
Pray.
Teach.
Go.

Do something that demonstrates faith. For faith with no effort at all is no faith at all.

Promises about Reading God's Word

It (God's Word) judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts. Hebrews 4:12

The truly happy people are those who carefully study God's perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God's teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy. James 1:25

Promises about Giving to God

Give, and you will receive. You will be given much. Pressed down, shaken together, and running over, it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you. Luke 6:38

Promises about Praising God

It is the normality not the uniqueness of God's miracles that causes them to be so staggering. Rather than shocking the globe with an occasional demonstration of Deity, God has opted to display his power daily. Proverbially. Pounding waves. Prism-cast colors. Birth, death, life. We are surrounded by miracles. God is throwing testimonies at us like fireworks, each one exploding, "God is! God is!"

Promises about Serving God

In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people. Remember that you will receive your reward from the Lord, which he promised to his people. You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24.

Promises about God's Power

"If you believe, you will get anything you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:22.

Don't reduce this grand statement to the category of new cars and paychecks.

God wants you to fly. He wants you to fly free of yesterday's guilt. He wants you to fly free of today's fears. He wants you to fly free of tomorrow's grave. Sin, fear, and death. These are the mountains he has moved. These are the prayers he will answer.

Promises about God's Grace

Note: out for a week due to trip to Acuna, Mexico to build home for a need family. Great trip!

You may be decent. You may pay taxes and kiss your kids and sleep with a clean conscience. But apart from Christ you aren't holy. So how can you go to heaven?

Only believe. Accept the work already done, the work of Jesus on the cross.

It's that easy? ... Call it simple. Call it a gift. But don't call it easy.

Call it what is is. Call it grace.

Promises about God's Guidance

People make plans in their minds, but only the Lord can make them come true. Depend on the Lord in whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:1-3

Not heard this version... I love it.

Promises about God's Blessings

He has provided your needs (Matthew 6:25-34). He has protected you from harm (Psalm 139:5). He has adopted you (Ephesians 1:5). And he has given you his name (1 John 3:1).

God has proven himself as a faithful father. Now it falls to us to be trusting children.

Promises about God's Comfort

There are historical moments in which a real God met real pain so we could answer the question, "Where is God when I hurt?"

The God who spoke still speaks...The God who came still comes. He comes into our world. He comes into your world. He comes to do what you can't.

Promises about God's Steadfastness

God never gives up.

When Joseph was dropped into a pit by his own brothers, God didn't give up.

When Moses said, "Here I am, send Aaron," God didn't give up....

When the delivered Israelites wanted Egyptian slavery instead of milk and honey, God didn't give up.

When Samson whispered to Delilah, when Saul roared after David, when David schemed against Uriah, God didn't give up.

When Peter worshiped Him at the supper and cursed Him at the fire, He didn't give up.

God never gives up.

Promises about God's Faithfulness

We are God's idea. We are his. His face. His eyes. His hands. His touch. "The body of Christ"

And though we may not act like our Father, there is no greater truth than this: We are his. Unalterably. He loves us. Undyingly. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ (see Romans 8:38-39.

Promises about God's Mercy

God does not save us because of what we've done. Only a puny god could be bought with tithes.

Only an egotistical god would be impressed with our pain. Only a temperamental god could be satisfied with sacrifices. Only a heartless god would sell salvation to the highest bidders.

And only a great God does for his children what they can't do for themselves.

God's delight is received upon surrender, not awarded upon conquest. The first step is a plea for help, an acknowledgment of moral destitution, an admission of inward paucity. Those who taste God's presence have declared spiritual bankruptcy and are aware of their spiritual crisis... Their pockets are empty. Their options are gone. They have long since stopped demanding justice; they are pleading for mercy.

Promised about God's Love

God's love does not hinge our yours. The abundance of your love does not increase his. The lack of your love does not diminish his. Your goodness does not enhance his love, nor does your weakness dilute it.

God loves you simply because he has chosen to do so.

He loves you when you don't feel lovely.

He loves you when no one else loves you.

Others may abandon you, divorce you, and ignore you, but God will love you. Always. No matter what.

Promises about Patience

"...troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and character produces hope." Romans 5:3-5

God is often more patient with us than we are with ourselves.

Promises about Strength

He gives strength to those that are tired....

Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest.

God is out protection and strength.

I believe in the sun, even though it doesn't shine,
I believe in love, even when it isn't shown,
I believe in God, even when he doesn't speak.

Promises about Truth

The rules of the Lord can be trusted; they make plain people wise...Psalm 19:7-9

The point is clear: the truth will triumph. The Father of truth will win, and the followers of truth will be saved.

Promises about Hope

"He restores my soul," wrote the shepherd. He doesn't reform; he restores. He doesn't camouflage the old; he restores the new. The Master Builder will pull out the original plan and restore it. He will restore the vigor. He will restore the energy. He will restore the hope. He will restore the soul.

Promises about Contentment

"...I know how to live when I am poor, and I know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the secret to being happy in everything that happens... I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength..." Phil 4:11-13

Max writes:

We are not satisfied. Contentment is a difficult virtue. Why?

Because there is nothing on earth that can satisfy our deepest longing. We long to see God. The leaves of life are rustling with the rumor that we will - and we won't be satisfied until we do.

Promises about Faith

"We have small troubles for a while now, but they are helping us gain an eternal glory that is much greater than the troubles."

God's help is near and always available, but it is only given to those who seek it.

Promises about God

"Our love depends on the receiver of the love. ... Not so with the love of God."

"The love of God is born from within him, not from what he finds in us. His love is uncaused and spontaneous."

Back on the wagon...

Back on the wagon this morning with a twist - a devotional - at work - early morning.

Chose "God's Promises for You" by Max Lucado.

Off the wagon...

So, the daily Bible went well for awhile even though I didn't post here... then I fell off the wagon, as usual.

A challenge and a commitment

Today, I listened to my best friend's dad (a retired pastor of 25 years) preach (teach?) at the local church (www.journeyky.org) we've been attending. It was the first time I've heard him. It was a very good job and message.

In fact, so good, I was challenged to begin reading the Bible on a daily basis and the thought came to me - you're an IT guy without a blog - with things to say - you should finally blog. And, I thought it might be neat to track the changes in my life as I commit to reading through the Bible every day. The goal will be to get through the entire Bible (for the first time ever) in one year using one of the (many) "read-the-Bible-through-in-1-year programs/plans. So, this is Post # 1 for me and this Blog aptly titled "Every Day of the Year."

Think I'll use "The Message" version/translation for this and branch out as needed.

Here's to me committing to reading the Bible daily, committing to keeping this blog up to date accordingly, and most importantly committing to the positive change that *will* come of it...

Enjoy.

Kevin Wethington
6.1.08
Union, KY