Month: December 2025

God, The Promise Keeper

On By vickleaIn ScriptureLeave a comment

God Keeps His Promises (Daily Refresh, 12-09)

“’The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.” 
Jeremiah 33:14 NIV

A lot of people would have laughed at Jeremiah when he said these words. Why? Because it seemed like God had abandoned both Israel and Judah. 

At this point in the story of the Bible, Israel is gone—wiped out by an invading army. Now Judah is alone, and another massive army is at their gates to destroy them too. The situation couldn’t have been more hopeless. 

Have you ever experienced a moment like that? Maybe it was a life-changing loss, or impossibly difficult news. In those painful moments, it can feel impossible to trust God’s promises. The people listening to Jeremiah probably felt the same way. But it wasn’t the end of their story because circumstances can’t ruin God’s promises. 

Yes, the enemy broke in and took God’s people into captivity for decades. But God didn’t abandon His people or give up on His promises. Over time, He rescued His people from captivity and brought them back home. 

God hasn’t abandoned you in your pain either. You might feel like there’s no way out of your situation, or that your choices disqualify you from God’s love. But God keeps His promises. 

For generations after returning from captivity, God’s people struggled. They continued to face heartbreak, setbacks, invasions, and captivity. But when they least expected it, God fulfilled His promise. He sent His son, Jesus, to lead everyone, including the people of Israel and Judah, into a new and better future. 

God’s promise of a better future applies to you, too. When we pursue God with our whole lives, we find peace, strength, and contentment. And we live with confidence knowing that one day, we’ll get to spend eternity with Jesus. We have new life believing that God has fulfilled His promise.

My Thoughts

One of my memory verses for this year has been Numbers 23:19, which says that “God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that He should repent. Has He not said and will He not make it good? Has He spoken and will he not do it?” I have pondered and pondered that verse and I always conclude that I cannot find a single circumstance in the Bible or in my life in which God did not keep His promises. When God says He will punish, He does. When He says He will reward, He does. When things look the bleakest, God is still there, carrying out His plan and His promises because He is a Promise Keeper.

Christmas is the season for joy, hope, and giving. God gave and we accept. We like the lights, the decorations, the gifts coming in the mail or under the tree. But pause and think about what it cost our Heavenly Father to keep His promise of redemption. He sent his ONLY Son, the One who had been with Him from creation, to us as a babe born into lowly circumstances and sent to minister to a doubting and needy world. God keeps His promises, always. If God says it, you can count on it happening. Probably not when you think it will come. After all, there was four hundred years of silence from the prophets before Jesus was born. Probably not how you think it will come. The people to whom Jesus came expected a warrior to free them from Rome. What they got was a Savior to free them from sin and offer them the gift of eternal life. God’s promises are fulfilled in a way that is better than we expected and more than we hoped for. He is a Promise Keeper who shows us the way to Him. Waiting for a promise is hard, but if it is coming from God, the wait will be worth it!

What Is Your Daily Focus?

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

What’s Inside of You? (Daily Refresh, 12-08)

Have you ever made a poor decision and thought, “Why did I do that?” 

In the Old Testament, the heart was considered the center of inner life, and people believed it dictated thoughts, emotions, and actions. It was essentially a combination of someone’s soul and mind. 

When Proverbs 4:23 tells us to “guard our hearts,” what it’s essentially saying is to pay careful attention to how you fill your inner life. 

What goes into your soul and mind determines what comes out of your mouth. And what you say influences your actions and decisions. While you might not notice the effect your choices have on you today—over time, they will impact the direction of your life.    

So how do we intentionally take care of our inner lives? 

Our bodies were made by God, which means the thing they need most is God. He is the One who sustains us. So some of the best things we can do for ourselves is to intentionally seek God through prayer, studying Scripture, reflecting on His blessings, and inviting the Holy Spirit to speak to us throughout our day. 

The best way to guard our hearts is by giving our hearts to God. When we make Him the center of our lives and the source of our strength, what we do will flow out from Him. 

So instead of fitting God into our daily routines, let’s create our daily routines around our relationship with God. Let’s create space for God to speak to us and restore us. Let’s allow God to heal the parts of our lives that are broken—so that what comes out of us is good, encouraging, and leads to an abundant, joy-filled life.

My Thoughts

I think that the most important sentence in the devotional is the one I emboldened at the end, “So instead of fitting God into our daily routines, let’s create our daily routines around our relationship with God.” All too frequently, I have a plan for the day before I even get out of bed. Time with God is part of that plan, but sometimes I am disrupted in my plan and I get irate, because I had a plan that is not going the way I think it should. A relationship with God, not just a daily rote devotional time with Him, is what is most important. Yes, the devotional time is a priority, but it is not the thing that keeps me in touch with God. That is my daily plugging in before I even get out of bed, talking to God, thanking Him for my rest and telling Him what my plans are and asking for His help to get things done.

I went into the kitchen to make a chai for our granddaughter this morning, reaching over and turning the machine on. But, no lights came on to indicate it was ready to go to work. I belatedly realized that I had not plugged it in yet. The connection to the electricity in the house made the Keurig work just fine. And my connection to God every day helps me to work the way I should, too.

I just returned from a visit to my sister in NC. She has macular degeneration so doesn’t see well, arthritis so she doesn’t move well and a bad attitude about life in general. I did all I could to help while I was there, making the meals, bringing her items she needed and cleaning up. But instead of gratitude, I got yelled at every day about something small, like putting a pot holder on the counter with the four coffee makers she has. Who knew that “nothing goes on the counter with the coffee makers”? After three days of that, I was fed up and ready to go home, knowing that I would be leaving in just two more days. Then the weather forecast for snow back home changed my plans. I was distraught to say the least, not happy that I had to stay an extra day with someone so negative and grumpy. On Thursday night, after a long day of her being the same as usual, I went to my bedroom and as I fell exhausted into bed, I asked God to help me get through one more day. The Holy Spirit gently reminded me to be compassionate and patient with her, showing me clearly how lonely her life is every day without friends or human contact except occasionally. With that in mind, I prayed for a good day and a change to witness to her. It was amazing the next morning when for the first time all week, she thanked me for making the meals the whole time. She never said thank you, so that was a minor miracle to me. Then we spent the day chatting and enjoying each other’s company. The negativity was still there, but it wasn’t the focus. The time together was what was important. God’s Spirit had me focus on what her life was like and to treat her the way Jesus would have if he were the one with her for that extra day. When one of her coffee makers didn’t work right, I assisted in getting the serial number off the back. She couldn’t read it so I took a screenshot so she could make it larger and talk to customer service to troubleshoot. While she talked to them, I prayed silently that all would work out, and it did! The coffee maker started working again and she was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t that hard to troubleshoot. The whole day was kind of like that. She had a problem and I tried to work it out with her. At one point, she was almost hyperventilating and sobbing with the stress of a particular problem. I told her to take a deep breath, exhale slowly and say a short prayer for help. She didn’t say anything to me about my advice, but she did stop crying and started thinking rationally again.

I know absolutely that I did not have answers for her but God did and He had prepared me to help out that day by reminding me to have compassion and patience. If I had not kept myself plugged into Him during my visit, I would have missed the opportunity to be a helper and a witness.. We never know what chances we miss out on to help others if we are self-focused instead of God-focused. I had been so busy feeling bad for myself that I had to spend an extra day with Grumpy and Thankless that I would have missed it. I thank the Lord that He knew what my sister needed as well as what I needed and His small voice in my heart was just what I needed to hear to not just make it through the last day with my sister but to actually enjoy it. My heart was full of love when I left instead of anger and feeling taking advantage of, as I had all week, pressing down my emotions in order to try to continue to help her. I think God answered my prayer in a miraculous and unexpected way, a way that can only come with a heart focused on serving God. I found out the hard way that I am nowhere close to perfect, but when I humble myself before the Father, He takes me and uses me for His good plan. He is not just fitting into my routine; He is the center of it!

Permission to Sit in God’s Presence

On By vickleaIn encouragement, Scripture, testimony2 Comments

Closer that You Think (Daily Refresh, 12-06)

In one unsuspecting moment, everything can change.

A relationship can shatter, a dream can suddenly end. Your heart can break for a million different reasons: grief, rejection, loneliness, uncertainty, tragedy, betrayal.

When something terrible happens and the world makes zero sense…

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. 
Psalm 34:18 NLT

David, the writer of Psalm 34, preached what he lived. He experienced some intense highs and fierce lows, but he recognized God’s presence in the midst of his circumstances. He knew that God was near, and God could change any situation in an instant.

Is your heart broken? Is your spirit crushed?

God is near.
He hasn’t left you to fight for yourself.
He sees you in your heartbreak.
He meets you where you are.
He has not forgotten you.
He has not abandoned you.

This doesn’t mean you won’t face hard things. But even when your mind races and your heart doubts, God offers a peace and an intimacy that cannot be fully explained.

Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we now have constant access to God’s presence through His Holy Spirit. There are many places in the Bible where the Holy Spirit is described as the Comforter—ready to soothe, guide, counsel, and encourage. 

The comfort we receive from God is a gift from His Spirit who is always with us. So if your heart is breaking and your spirit is crushed, know that you are in good hands. God is near, and He will not abandon you.

Trials and hardships are a part of life, but God has the final say.

Right now, take a few moments to name anything that has crushed your spirit. Then, give yourself permission to just sit in God’s presence for a few moments. When you’re ready, consider memorizing today’s verse and meditate on it throughout your day.

My Thoughts

Everyone has been through tough times in life. When I was a young married mom, my family in Virginia disappeared. Yes. They disappeared. They packed up and left town in the middle of the night and I had no idea where they were for over two years. My mom, my dad, my two brothers who were 19 and 13 and my five year-old sister. Gone! My husband and I rushed to Virginia after my grandmother’s frantic call that they were leaving, but they were gone. There was a warrant for my father’s arrest and they were in hiding somewhere. The FBI questioned me. I was overwhelmed with grief and filled with questions.

What kept me going? God’s presence and the power of the Holy Spirit. At that time, we were scheduled to go to Youth with a Mission in the fall, so we went there, with my family missing and feeling lost, I went. There, I immersed myself in God’s Word and got through that hard time. I cannot tell you how because it is all a foggy period of my life. But when I got a letter from my mother over two years later, I rejoiced to be able to reunite with my family again.

God is there in the hard times, in the good times, in all the times. We have to accustom ourselves to spending time in His presence to know with certainty that He is there for us. He will make Himself known and be close to you just as He was close to me then and in all of the other times I have called out to Him. God is no respecter of persons and I am a witness to the power and comfort He brings in the hardest times of life.

FedEx Follies

On By vickleaIn Funny Story4 Comments

So, let me share this hilarious-to-me customer service story. When I got home to Virginia today, I got a notification from FedEx that a package was delivered at 5:21 p.m. Harry checked the porch and the red car and no package. So I checked the tracking number to get a photo. The package was left under two trees…in a yard somewhere, but not ours. Harry drove to the neighbor (the one who has never threatened us, noting that we only have two neighbors) and she doesn’t have two trees with a package under it either. So, I investigated and found out that the package is medication from Walmart (OTC, of course).

I talked to Harold at customer service who said to give him two days to coordinate with FedEx. I asked him to make sure that the FedEx driver knows not to leave packages under unknown trees. He laughed and said, “Yes, ma’am. I am making a note that you are neither a dog nor a bird and do not look for packages under trees.” ROTFL 🤪

Nope…not me!

What Does Love Look Like?

On By vickleaIn Scripture1 Comment

Love One Another (Daily Refresh, 12-05)

Jesus said two important things about our love for each other. First, that all people will know we are His disciples if we love one another (John 13:34). Second, our unity in Him will let the world know that God sent Him into the world (John 17:23).

Jesus said the world would know He’s come by how His followers love each other. We should love one another in such a way that those who do not believe in Jesus would be astounded and curious to learn more about Him. 

Jesus knew this world would be full of anger, strife, and conflict. This is all the more reason it should be a priority to love other people with the same love God has for us. Loving others unveils to the world the great and loving God who loved us first.

Years after Jesus’ resurrection, the apostle John wrote three short letters to followers of Jesus. And in his first letter, he takes the time to talk to them about how to love, and why it matters. John wrote: “…love is from God … if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another … we love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:7, 11, 19) 

He even goes as far as to say, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar, for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” (1 John 4:20, ESV) 

There’s no way around this. John makes it clear that our love for one another is proof that God’s love is in us. So if we say that we love God, then we should be committed to showing love to each other.

As you reflect on today’s verse, ask yourself: Is there anyone in my life that I need to show love to today? Is there anyone I need to forgive? In what ways can I love my brothers and sisters in Christ?

My Thoughts

Today’s devotional is confirmation that I need to love more and sincerely. I have been at my sister’s apartment in North Carolina all week. We have had some nice times together, but mostly it has been a trial since she is not a believer and scoffs at my beliefs. She belittles me constantly and orders me around like she is a commanding general. Last night when I retired to my room to read and sleep, I prayed and told God just how upset I was feeling and how hard it has been to maintain a Christian attitude of loving and giving. He gently but firmly reminded me that I am to love as He loves, not as I am being treated. I should have compassion for her because she is basically alone most of the time, sees no one, talks to no one and has only the Hallmark channel for her constant companion. Add to that the fact that she is going blind from macular degeneration and is feeling lonely as well as neglected, she is one to be prayed for and helped as much as I can while I am here. So, last day here…I resolve to love in spite of bad language, demands and other things that irritate me. I am thankful that I have the Lord to correct me and let me know that I am loved all the time, not just when someone decides to visit.

My love is not for me to establish my relationship with God. It is so that others like my sister can see it. So far, there has been no change in years of visiting, but God is in charge of change and I am in charge of my own attitude and continuing to show love, kindness and a generous spirit. I wish for a better life for her, one that has her smiling and happy again, content with her life. But if that is not to happen, then my prayer is that she finds the Lord who is the only One who can truly fulfill her deepest desires to be accepted and loved unconditionally.

We never know what someone is going through until we truly spend time seeing life with their eyes and in their world. I have seen someone who sleeps a lot because there isn’t much else to do. Someone whose only friend seems to be the lady from Instacart who delivers her groceries. Someone who tries to control others’ actions because her life is so out of her own control. And I feel a deep love and compassion for her and deep sorrow that she doesn’t know the Lord.

The next time you meet a difficult person, think about the fact that their life may be the most challenging thing you have ever encountered, thank God that you are you, and pray for them to come to know the Lord and receive new sight into what is really important. Yes, this week has been hard. But I will go home tomorrow and my dear sister will remain alone in her apartment, waiting for her daughter to call or visit, waiting for groceries to be delivered and listening to Hallmark Christmas movies as she drifts off to sleep again. My heart breaks for her and I hope you will remember her in your prayers.

What’s Your Babylon?

On By vickleaIn encouragement, promises, Scripture, YouVersion App7 Comments

Fulfillment of God’s Promises (Daily Refresh 12-04)

Hundreds of years before Jesus, the people of God were in trouble. 

They were stuck in life, unable to help themselves, and perhaps beginning to doubt that God would save them. Have you ever felt the same way? If so, you might relate to the original audience of this verse—the exiles in Babylon. 

The Babylonians conquered God’s people and land, sending them hundreds of miles away. Maybe they thought that God had abandoned them, or that He couldn’t hear their cries. But God is always close—especially when His people call on His name.

Isaiah let his people know that God would provide a way out of Babylonian captivity. And God kept His promise, allowing His people to return home. 

Generations later, many of God’s people saw themselves as being in a new exile. They were home, but all was not well. So they remembered this verse and its promise—that no matter how dark or desperate our situation might be, God is able to provide a path out of brokenness, heartbreak, and despair into a whole, healthy future. 

Little did they know that an even more permanent solution to the darkness they lived in was coming. Isaiah 40:3 is a prophecy that was not only fulfilled when the exiles left Babylon and went home, but was also fulfilled in the coming of the Messiah. Through Jesus, God paved a permanent path for people to come out of darkness and find hope, strength, and peace. God provided a permanent way out of darkness and into light.

So what are you going through? What’s your “Babylon?” It might be a habit you can’t break, a loved one who keeps making self-destructive decisions, or a mental health challenge that feels overwhelming. No matter what it is, God can make a way out of brokenness and into life.

My Thoughts

Honestly, until I read this devotional, I never thought about it before. What is my Babylon? I think it is my health challenges and how discouraged I get sometimes because of them. But I also think it is being distant from children and grandchildren and feeling lonely at times. So, can God move me out of Babylon? I think He does that for me daily as I spend time with Him and have my soul refreshed by His Spirit and power. The aches and pains and illnesses don’t immediately disappear, but I am more able to cope with them and know that one day I will no longer have pain and that I will be able to breathe well without the help of nebulizer and inhalers. Jesus gives me that hope. The loneliness of not having grandchildren nearby doesn’t go away either, but God reassures me that He is close and that He will always be there. When I am feeling alone, I only have to speak His name.

So, what is your Babylon? What is holding you captive in the darkness of everyday life and its challenges. I would like each of you to think about it and release it to God so that it’s not a place of captivity but it becomes a place of looking up to the One who always offers hope. He has a plan for each of us, just as He did for captive Israel, and His plans are always good.

Use Every Opportunity to Pray

On By vickleaIn Admonition, encouragement, Scripture, worshipLeave a comment

Cultivating Honest Conversations with God (Daily Refresh, 12-3-25)

Prayer is one of the most important habits we can develop. Not only does Scripture command us to pray often, but there are tremendous benefits to building a life of prayer. 

Prayer connects us relationally to God. We can thank God for who He is and what He has done for us during our prayer time. We can ask Him for things that we need.

Even though we know we should pray, we often don’t take the time to do it. Unless we set aside time to talk to God, it doesn’t always find a way into our daily schedules. But Paul, the writer of the letter to the Ephesians, urges Christians to build a life of prayer. He says that every occasion is a chance to talk to God.

All of our requests and needs should be given to God. However, our time praying should not only be asking God for things. We should also spend part of our time in worship—thanking God for who He is and all He has done. 

Paul also encourages us to pray for other people. In fact, part of our responsibility towards others is to advocate for them through prayer. We typically remember to pray for others when something negative is happening to them. But God’s Word says we should always be praying for the people in our life.

As we pray, we should not be discouraged when we don’t see immediate change. God is always working in our lives, even if it doesn’t match our desired timeline. We may not receive the answers we want, but we can rest assured that God is always listening and working on our behalf.

Take some time today to pray to God. Thank Him for all He has done for you. Tell Him your needs. Think of a few people in your life that you can pray for. Throughout your week, use every opportunity to pray to God.

My Thoughts

I have banged this drum on several other occasions, but this article today says some things that I don’t recall saying before, so I want to reiterate how vital to your spiritual life prayer is. If I knew my husband was right there next to me and never spoke to him, I would not be valuing our relationship, would I? How much more important is God in our lives? He is always close by and yet we rush into the day often without even thinking about taking time to pray.

Prayer doesn’t have to be an hour; there is no timetable to talk to God. Just make time to do it every day and build the habit of making Him a priority every day. Then, throughout the day, you can continue to talk to Him about what you see that He needs to address.

I find myself sometimes with my thoughts wandering as I pray. People I haven’t seen in years come to my mind as I sit quietly before the Lord. I don’t claim to know exactly why, but I think the Holy Spirit knows that those people need some kind of intervention from God, so I pray for them. Whenever God brings someone to my mind, I pray. I don’t have to know why, I just have to know the One who does know and who will work in their situation. We are truly being advocates for others when we pray for them.

For me, the most important aspect about prayer is establishing God’s sovereignty in my life and my awe that He wants to spend time with me. It’s not all about my “wish list” but it is all about just taking time to talk to the Lord and then to listen to what He says to my heart, before I start my busy day.

Sometimes God comforts me, other times He admonishes me, and still other times, He just listens and I feel His calming presence. I need God every day, all day, and I think that ongoing relationship starts with prayer.

Mindset of Abundance

On By vickleaIn Admonition, encouragement, God’s blessings, ScriptureLeave a comment

Refreshed (Daily Refresh, 12-02, YouVersion)

Do you know someone who constantly pours themselves out?

They’re generous with their words, unselfish with their time, and openhanded with their money. And yet, somehow, they always seem to have more to give.

The author of Proverbs, traditionally attributed to King Solomon, said this:

“The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭11‬:‭25‬ ‭NLT

King Solomon knew a thing or two about generosity. In fact, Scripture tells us: “King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth” (1 Kings 10:23). But he was also generous, spending years of his life funding and building the temple in Jerusalem, as well as sharing what he had learned with others.

Some of the unhappiest people on earth are stuck in a cycle of selfishness. But if you’ve ever been generous with your life—whether you’ve given financially, contributed your expertise, invested your time, opened up your home, or offered spiritual, emotional, and physical support—you know from experience: those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. 

Of course, we shouldn’t give to get. And we also must apply God’s wisdom when it comes to setting boundaries and avoiding burnout. But Jesus is the King of an upside-down Kingdom, where:

The last will be first.
The greatest will be a servant.
Those who give up their life will save it.

Jesus even told a story of a poor woman who gave more than anyone else—because she gave everything she had (Mark 12:41-44).

You don’t have to be rich to be generous; you just need a heart that is willing to serve.

So today, instead of a scarcity mindset, let’s have a mindset of abundance. Our God has unlimited strength, power, and resources.

My Thoughts

As I write this, it is actually “giving Tuesday,” a phrase I am certain was coined by someone who wants you to get out your wallet. I am publishing it on Wednesday, however, because I want to think about it a while first.

It isn’t that I am against giving. Certainly not! But I am against anything that comes close to the “prosperity gospel” that I think has turned many away from the Lord, giving them the idea that they have to give to be saved and if they don’t, they will never prosper. I’m more of a proponent of giving when God tells you to, what God tells you to, how God tells you to and to whom God tells you to. The God who provided all for me will also give me the wisdom to know when, what, how and to whom without designating a specific day for it.

I had no less than 100 email messages in my inbox today, all asking for contributions of some kind or reminding me that I need to give to them for whatever reason. The “delete” button is my friend this morning. I already give to those I want to give to and if God prompts me to give more or to give to someone else, I will, but an email messages and various ads in my inbox won’t cut it.

I apologize if I sound harsh; I really don’t mean my words to hurt feelings or turn people away. I just want people to know that giving is a heart thing and whether you give or not, that is between you and God. God knows your heart, your resources and your abilities and He will speak to you if you listen.

I could now be a walking advertisement for the good that the organizations to which I contribute do and try to convince you to give to them, also. But that is not my purpose. My purpose is to let you know that God’s Word is true. When you give, you will be refreshed, but you need to give in the way God prompts you, not other people or even the messages that are flooding your inbox. The saying is that the “squeaky wheel gets the grease.” I would like to encourage you to let God be the “squeaky wheel” in your life so that when you give, it will truly be God-led and you will not feel pressured but blessed.

Stepping off of my soapbox now to wish you all a blessed day. Blessed to be a blessing, I am His servant.

Live Awake and Watchful

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Scripture2 Comments

A Calling to Prepare (Daily Refresh, 11-30, YouVersion)

Just days before He would die on the cross, Jesus spoke these words to His followers:

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”
Matthew 24:42 NIV

He knew exactly when He would die. He knew the hour of His resurrection. He knew the plan, the timing, and the weight of everything unfolding around Him.

But here, during a series of parables, Jesus shifts His focus to what’s still ahead: His return. And He makes one thing clear—we won’t know when it’s coming. No date on the calendar. No countdown clock. Just this charge: Keep watch.

Why? Because when we live with spiritual alertness and urgency, we prioritize what matters. We live awake to the work of God around us. We live watchful over our own hearts, refusing to drift into complacency.

If every day could be the day Jesus returns, then we must live every day with the same obedience to His calling for us.

Jesus isn’t calling us to panic; He’s calling us to prepare. He’s inviting us to stay faithful and hopeful in a world that can dull our sense of eternity. To keep our hearts anchored in the truth that this world is not our final home—and He is coming again to make all things new.

So we watch and wait, but not complacently. Instead, we live today in light of that glorious day to come.

My Thoughts

Most, if not all of us, have watched the countdown clock in Times Square on New Year’s Eve. We watch with delight and anticipation, with the hope and promise that the New Year may bring.

Should we not also watch daily with that same hope and anticipation for the return of Jesus? We don’t know when He is coming back, but we know for certainty that it is going to happen. We need to always be prepared.

We prepare for company to come by cleaning our houses and making good food, perhaps even planning activities together for after the meal. We wait with happy anticipation for their arrival and then enjoy the visit.

How do we prepare for Christ to return? We pray, we read His Word, we seek His face and we tell others about Him so that they can joyfully expect His return, also. We are not supposed to be idle while we wait. He gave us a job to do and is watching to see if we are carrying out His instructions. We are not supposed to just take for granted that we will be ready for His return but go about our lives as though we have all the time in the world to get ready for Jesus to come back. We can’t know that, so we have to always be ready. You don’t pack your suitcase when your train has already arrived at the station. You pack it long before you go to meet the train. That is why we have to pack now, be ready now, because we don’t know when the Lord will return and we want to be prepared. That’s why we have to live awake to God’s Word, listening for Him to speak to us. And we have to live watchful over our own hearts, not getting tired of waiting, but always hopeful that today might be the day.

God’s Promises

On By vickleaIn Characteristics of God, promises, ScriptureLeave a comment

Cling to God’s Promises (Daily Refresh, 11-29, YouVersion)

What do you think about? 

The thoughts that fill your mind are crucial, because what you cling to influences your worldview. 

If you choose to dwell on God’s promises, you start to recognize God’s blessings during uncertain times. Trusting that God will redeem your present pain equips you to walk forward in faith and keep on fighting. 

Isaiah 12:2 reminds us that we belong to a God who is faithful to keep His promises. This God rescues us and fights for us. So when we belong to God, we have nothing to fear—all we need to do is cling to God and wait on Him to act. 

So as you walk forward today, reflect on some of God’s promises, and let them transform the way you think: 

God will sustain you. (Psalm 55:22)

God’s peace will guard your heart. (Philippians 4:7)

God delights over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

God will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. (Psalm 32:8)

God is your refuge and strength, your help in times of need. (Psalm 46:1)

In all things, you are more than a conqueror because God loves you. (Romans 8:37)

God will never leave you or forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

God’s perfect love casts out all your fear. (1 John 4:18)

Nothing can separate you from God’s love. (Romans 8:38-39)

God’s not done with you. God’s not done with you. God’s not done with you. (Philippians 1:6)

My Thoughts

First of all, the bold scripture passages are ones that I have memorized this year, but all of the promises of God are important.

Are you married or have you ever been married? Do you remember the vows you took that day? If you used the traditional vows, you and your spouse promised to love, honor and cherish until death parted you. That was a promise, a sacred covenant promise between you and your spouse, a covenant established by God when He gave Eve to Adam. I know that many have suffered the effects of divorce, and although my heart goes out to you, that is not the topic of today’s post. The vows remain the same, although some choices have been made to leave those vows behind and move on in life. God allows divorce but He doesn’t condone it because He is aware, as many of you are, that divorce hurts everyone touched by it and the healing is long in coming.

Back to promises. Has someone close to you promised you something and then didn’t carry it out? I don’t think I am in a minority when I say a resounding “yes” to that question. Whether the person forgot, circumstances got in the way or they didn’t prioritize the promise, I felt a little trust seep out. If this situation continues repeatedly, then trust evaporates and the relationship is likely broken, or at least irrevocably changed.

God does not lie and He does not break His promises. If He said it, we can trust that He will do it. He told Abram that He was taking him to a new land and his ancestors would be as numerous as the sand. He kept that promise, didn’t He? Even though Abraham was elderly and thought that he and Sarah would never have their own child, God blessed them with Isaac and the dynasty of Israel began. Think about the Biblical story that comes to your mind when you consider God’s keeping His promises. I think of David, Daniel, Moses, and yes, even Jesus. God promised a Savior and even though it cost Him a beloved Son, He fulfilled that promise.

Sometimes we want to force God into a corner somehow and remind Him of His promises, asking Him just when He plans to carry them out and make you the person He wants you to be. The answer is always the same. In His time, not ours. Remember that the Bible says, “When the fullness of time was come…” We are all a work in progress, but God is and always has been a perfect work, from infinity to eternity. One of His attributes is being a Promise Keeper.

I don’t know about you, but I think long and hard before I promise someone something. I want to be like the Father and keep my commitments, but sometimes I don’t and I always feel very guilty afterwards, even when I confess and the other person forgives me. God doesn’t have to be careful about making promises. They are already written in His Word, the treasure that we can find and hold on to in the hard times in our lives. Although other people may disappoint us with their lack of trustworthiness, God never will.