During my time in Brisbane, I had the opportunity to attend a service at Hillsong Church. Worship was high energy, exciting and glorifying. What meant the most to me during the service was the message that was shared. I felt like it was solely meant for us World Racers who attended that morning. The message was about God’s promises for our lives. “Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises…” 2 Peter 1:4. Can I highlight something for you? God’s promises are precious. He then went on to share the story of Abram’s life when the Lord asks him to give up everything to follow him. “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse.” Genesis 12:1-3 Hopefully you see what I mean about this message hitting home for me. 😉
God has promised to direct my path. He has called me to the Race and wants me here for a reason. “What God has called us to, far out ways what he called us from,” the pastor reminded us (unfortunately, we weren’t given a bulletin, and I can’t remember his name).
God’s promises always provides for our lives. The pastor went on to tell us how God’s promise brings progress. If you look at Hebrews 8:6-13 it says:
“But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and is founded on better promises. For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people and said, “The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by he hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor or a man his brother, saying because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete, and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.”
Another one of God’s promises is a picture for our future. Sometimes we limit God because of our own selves. But He has a plan for our future and He reveals it in His timing. And God’s time is always perfect timing! As we read through the Bible we get a better grasp of what that picture is. With these promises though, it doesn’t mean the absence of failure. Through these promises we will produce faith. If we lose faith and start to fear, then fear can lead us to failure, but in the midst of failure, God’s promises still stand! “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” Hebrews 10:36
We were also reminded that a promise can redirect our path. “Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.” Genesis 13:9 .What we need to trust in though is no matter which way we go, God’s blessing is on us! And sometimes, God will purposely redirect your path through situations or circumstances, thus making progress in who He wants you to become.
We have to be careful not to forget His promises though. We have to daily remind ourselves that our Father wants the best for us. He knows our hearts, souls, and minds and only wants what’s best for us–even if that means bringing us through something really tough. “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23. “God is far more interested in our character than our comfort,” Michael Hindes of AIM, reminded us at launch. So I praise God for the promises He has on my life. I’m thankful that He has made me rely on Him in new ways already this year, so that progress can be made in my life.
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” Hebrews 1:20
