Up until 5 years ago, I can't ever remember opening a Bible. Not one time. I think I have one from childhood stored away in a bin somewhere. Bible reading wasn't my thing. I didn't have to, because I went to church. Or so I thought.
Depending on your background, your story might be similar. Bibles were only for those weird people. Who can understand it anyway. Leave that to the pastor or priest or the really churchy people.
I had no idea what the Bible was really about. I thought it just was a bunch of rules. "Don't do this or if you do, you are going to hell." The picture I had painted in my head was quite intimidating. Little did I know, I could not have been more wrong.
I can't pinpoint a specific time, but what I can tell you is how I felt when hearing a verse explained in a way that was useful to my life. I was intrigued. I know Sunday after Sunday, I would write down a verse or chapter that I needed to know a little more about. I would go back and read and this transformative light bulb would go off. "How could this ancient text be so parallel to what I am going through now," I would ponder. Call me weird all you want, but the Bible is anything but. Guess I shouldn't have judged the people who had it figured out before I did!
I began to realize the Bible was so much more than the picture I had painted in my head. The words brought me comfort. The words gave me peace. The words were filled with lessons for a deeper and better life. Most of all the words were filled with promises. Promises God has for those who love Him, and for those who don't. Promises I could cling to when the day was just too much for me to handle. Promises that gave me hope that tomorrow didn't have to be the same.
God's promises continue to transform me. I know that no matter what I face, He will be a friend high-fiving me in the best of moments and a father to lean on in the worst of moments. I know what He promises in His Word will hold true through the test of time.
Promises of God
~I will give you peace
~I am your strength
~I will provide for you
~I will never leave you
~I will forgive you
~I will give you wisdom and guidance
~I will fight for you
~I have plans to prosper you
~I will give you eternal life
~I will bring justice
~I hear your prayers
~I will protect you
~I will always love you
Join me as we unpack each of these promises that God has laid out for us. In an ever-changing world, we can be sure these promises will never change. God's promises will always be there as a reminder of His faithfulness to each of us.