Presented To From Date
(Unpublished Bethany House, manuscript copyright a division of Baker Publishing protected Group, Baker 2017. Used Publishing by permission. Group)
(Unpublished Bethany House, manuscript copyright a division of Baker Publishing protected Group, Baker 2017. Used Publishing by permission. Group)
REFLECTIONS on His Promises to You 5
2017 by Bethany House Publishers Published by Bethany House Publishers 11400 Hampshire Avenue South Bloomington, Minnesota 55438 www.bethanyhouse.com Bethany House Publishers is a division of Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan Printed in China All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means for example, electronic, photocopy, recording without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews. Scripture quotations marked cev are from the Contemporary English Version 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked kjv are from the King James Version of the Bible. Scripture quotations marked msg are from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked nasb are from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked ncv are from the New Century Version. Copyright 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked niv are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, ISBN 978-0-7642-1888-0 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com Scripture quotations marked nkjv are from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked nlt are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked nrsv are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. General Editor: Lila Empson Wavering Cover design by Eric Walljasper Interior design by Jane Klein
God s way is perfect. All the Lord s promises prove true. 2 SAMUEL 22:31 nlt
Contents Introduction 12 Chosen of God 16 His Purpose Prevails 18 Always Keeping Watch 20 Angry No More 22 The Spirit s Pledge 24 God Will Do It 26 Given for You 28 Over All the Earth 30 When You Believe 32 Buried With Christ 34 He Knows His Own 36 His Many Gifts 38 Friendly Lines 40 Building the Inner You 42 Looking Up 44 The Little Ones 48 Clean Before God 50 He Is With You 52 Sticking With It 54 Holding Fast 56 Standing With Confidence 58 Choppy Water 60 Questions! Questions! 62 Standing Strong 64 Bound Up With God 66 Good Choices 68 Deliver Me, Lord! 70 Healing Comfort 72 The Lord Satisfies 74 Fight-or-Flight 78 My Heart Is Yours 80 Understanding God s Ways 82 God s Hand of Love 84 God Is Faithful 86 Investing in Dreams 88 Lifted Up 90 Don t Ever Give Up 92 8
When Enemies Roar 94 Open My Eyes, Lord 96 Entering God s Kingdom 98 Living Forever 100 In His Footsteps 102 Excellent Thoughts 104 Expect God s Best 108 Settled in Faith 110 Great Is His Faithfulness 112 The Family of God 114 Overcoming Fear 116 Receive Forgiveness 118 Basking in Freedom 120 All Things Are New 122 The Closest of Friends 124 A Bright Future 126 God s Generosity 128 Crowned With His Glory 130 Taking Up the Calling 132 He Is Faithful 134 Completely Forgiven 138 He Is Kind 140 Unfailing Love 142 Showing Mercy 144 Never Alone 146 In His Presence 148 He Is Good 150 Unending Grace 152 Suffering Loss 154 Lead Me, Lord 156 God Takes Our Guilt 158 A Happy Heart 160 Safe in His Arms 162 God s Healing Hands 164 The Blessing of Good Health 168 Our Heavenly Home 170 He Hears Your Cry 172 Created in Holiness 174 Receiving the Holy Spirit 176 Honesty Before God 178 God Bestows Honor 180 Waiting in Hope 182 An Open Door 184 Walking Humbly 186 Spiritual Hunger 188 Who Are You? 190 Inspiration From Above 192 9
Listen Up 194 Doing What Is Right 198 Never-Ending Joy 200 No Fear of Judgment 202 Tempered by Mercy 204 Jesus Tipped the Scales 206 A Gentle Touch 208 Living in the Kingdom 210 Seeking Knowledge 212 Into God s Hands 214 Living in Him 216 Light My Way 218 No, Never Alone 222 Only for You 224 Open Hearts 226 One Before God 228 Growing Up 230 Think on This 232 Looking Up 234 Right Thinking 236 Signs and Wonders 238 Living for Others 240 Deep and Wide 242 Love and Obedience 244 Waiting on the Lord 246 Seeking Peace 248 Able Under Fire 250 Stay With the Plan 252 He Alone Matters 254 God of Power 258 Praise Him 260 He Hears Us 262 Pride in Our God 264 Prospering His Way 266 The Price of Protection 268 All Our Needs 270 Pure and Healthy 272 For His Purpose 274 Joyful Reconciliation 276 Redeemed by Love 278 Those Who Come Near 280 A Good Name 282 True Sorrow 284 Stepping Up 288 Resting in Him 290 To Live Again 292 Newness of Life 294 Spiritual Eyes 296 The Lord Gives 298 Living for Jesus 300 10
Giving It All 302 Rescue Me 304 Real Satisfaction 306 Living in God s Word 308 Reaching Out to God 310 Serving God 312 Joy for Sorrow 314 Graceful Words 318 Growing in God 320 Doing What s Right 322 Standing Strong 324 Calling for Help 326 The Light of Life 328 The Secret of Success 330 Coming Glory 332 His Generous Gifts 334 Learning From Him 336 A Way of Escape 338 Fully Satisfied 340 Thoughtful Delights 342 Someone New 344 Far, Far Away 348 Hidden Treasure 350 Stepping Stones 352 Trusting Jesus 354 Every True Word 356 Know and Understand 358 Standing as One 360 Others First 362 Celebrating the Victory 364 Much Wealth 366 Strength for Weakness 368 God Is Great 370 Wholeness in God 372 He Who Is Wise 374 Unto the Lord 376 Don t Worry 378 Worship Him 380 11
Introduction Monetary wealth may be the currency of this world, but it amounts to nothing when compared to God s great and eternal promises. By some counts there are more than 3,500 statements in the Bible that promise benefits for every aspect of our daily lives. We do, indeed, have a good and generous heavenly Father. The devotions in this volume have been especially written to highlight God s promises. These promises shine light into our lives and give us hope and encouragement. Embrace these promises and experience the power of God in our lives through his words to us. As you read, we hope you will come to know with certainty that God is eternally invested in all you are and all you do. 12
My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises. PSALM 119:148 niv
There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses. 1 KINGS 8:56 nkjv
Chosen of God What can we do to win God s approval? Nothing! His approval is already ours in Christ. A newborn baby doesn t need to jump through any hoops for mom and dad to cry tears of joy that a child has been born. God does not reject us because we make mistakes. You are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you. ISAIAH 41:9 nasb Parents don t reject a child because she stumbles when she s learning to walk. We serve God not to gain his acceptance but because we already have it. Our service to God is an offering of gratitude; he has chosen us! We get to be part of the beautiful work he is doing in our world. 16