| Living in the Promise |  |
–noun 1. a declaration that something will or will not be done, given, etc., by one: unkept political promises. 2. an express assurance on which expectation is to be based: promises that an enemy will not win. 3. something that has the effect of an express assurance; indication of what may be expected. 4. indication of future excellence or achievement: a writer who shows promise. 5. something that is promised.
–verb (used with object) 6. to engage or undertake by promise (usually used with an infinitive or a clause as object): She promised to go tomorrow. 7. to make a promise of (some specified act, gift, etc.): to promise help. 8. to make a promise of something to (a specified person): Promise me that you will come. 9. to afford ground for expecting: The sky promised a storm. 10. to engage to join in marriage. 11. to assure (used in emphatic declarations): I won't go there again, I promise you that!
–verb (used without object) 12. to afford ground for expectation (often fol. by well or fair ): His forthcoming novel promises well.
Overall, the word promise (whether past tense or plural) is used approximately 110 times in the King James Bible. There are promises made
concerning land, children, provisions, and even long life. Although God never breaks His promises to us no matter what we do, He certainly
reserves the right to delay them until we are ready to receive them. Sometimes we personally do not get to benefit from His promises but, it
is our children who are the beneficiaries. No matter how long it takes to receive it, know that whatever God has promised you, it's on the way!
"And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform." Romans 4:21
Oftentimes we have a hard time waiting for the manifestations of God's Word and we become like Sarah. Sarah tried to give God a hand in the
promise that only He could keep. Yes, Abraham did have a son in his old age with the handmaid Hagar, but Ishmael was not the son of God's
original promise. When we try to step in and "help" God, we often end up making a mess of things and delaying what God really has in store for us.
"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." Psalm 27:14
There's really a blessing in waiting on God that I think most of us miss. I'm reminded of a friend who had a really terrible car. She drove that car
faithfully to work, church, and any other place that she had to go and was proud of it! She would pull up to a church service "dressed to the nines"
and stepping out of that same terrible and loud car! One day I told her how much I admired her tenacity when it came to her car and she simply
replied, "Oh, don't mind this car. This is just the car that's going to get me around town until I get the one God promised me!" I was completely in
awe of her stance toward her situation. Here she was, choosing to be happy and truly grateful for something that others perceived as a nuisance.
It was almost like Job saying "Don't mind these boils, God's got some baby-soft skin coming to me after 'while!" When you choose to be happy
with your current situation, you'll appreciate your promised position in life all the more. While you're waiting for your new home, take good care
of the one you're in. While you're waiting on your new car, wash and wax the one you're driving. While you're waiting on your husband or wife,
enjoy your alone time with God. Live like your promise is coming within the next second, minute, or hour of each day. Live knowing that ALL of
God's promises will be fulfilled. Learn to be thankful and content while you are YET living in the anticipation of His promise.
-LoVetta Jenkins
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