If God made a promise to us in Scripture, then He will be Faithful to bring it about.
“All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.” 1Jn 3:3 NIV
So let me get a little more specific about that example from yesterday, the promise from Isaiah 41:10, which is a bonus verse this week if you want to memorize it too: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” I will show you a practical way to use this verse for your good, as well as for those around you. Let’s say I have to have a really tough conversation with someone who has hurt my feelings in the past. I have been working with God to forgive them, but it is still an awkward moment to confront this person about the current issue. I begin to get nervous and want to cancel the talk, but that won’t resolve anything and will only leave me in this fearful state, right?
So I remember this verse and the fact that I have put my Hope in the written Word of God, and because of that, I choose to turn to the Lord, praying something like, “Lord, You promised that You are with me and that I do not need to act in fear. You also promised to give me strength for this task ahead of me and, since You are my loving God, I trust You will give me the words to speak and the heart in which to speak them. Thank You for Your guidance. I place this situation in Your mighty hands and pray for a mutually beneficial outcome. I love You, my Lord. Amen.” Then with this Faith stirred up in me, I go to speak, in truth and grace, with the other individual. Leaning on God and His promises, I can approach the person with a peaceful and joyful attitude…instead of that fear or anxiety or anger or whatever I was feeling before. Then I trust God with the outcome of this situation. And I can move forward, loving that person regardless of that outcome, because I am placing my Hope in Jesus. See the practical power of God’s Word? More tomorrow…
Join me in memorizing 52 verses this year:
January: 1- Jn 3:16; 2- 2Co 5:17; 3- Jas 2:26; 4- Eph 2:10
February: 5- Jn 10:10; 6- Ro 6:23; 7- Rev 21:4; 8- Php 4:13
March: 9- 1Pe 5:7; 10- Jn 8:32; 11- Dt 30:19; 12- Jn 3:30; 13- 2Chron 20:3
April: 14- 2Chron 20:12; 15- 2Chron 20:15b; 16- 2Chron 20:17
May: 17- Ro 8:28; 18- 1Co 13:13; 19- Php 2:12; 20- Mt 5:4
June: 21- Lk 23:42; 22- Jas 4:7; 23- Pr 22:6; 24- Mt 5:3; 25- Jn 14:6
July: 26- Jas 2:19; 27- Dt 31:8; 28- Jn 14:15; 29- Jn 8:11
August: 30- Ro 8:1; 31- Pr 4:23; 32- Pr 18:21; 33- Ps 118:24; 34- 1Jn 4:4
September: 35- Mt 16:24; 36- Isa 53:6; 37- Ps 23:1-6
October: 38- Heb 4:12; 39- Jn 15:5
40- Jas 5:16
41- 1Jn 3:1
42- 1Jn 5:12
43- 1Jn 3:3
<>< Peace, Diane
