When I was in college, I always carried a little paperback book with me that was a source of great encouragement. The book titled, “The Jesus Person Pocket Promise Book” was a compilation of 800 promises of God from God’s word by David Wilkerson. The promises were organized by topic of need, so it was easy to find a promise of God to fit any given necessity. It may sound like a small and trivial thing until you break down what is involved then you see that simply trusting in the promises of God is both honoring to Him as you honor His word, while providing a means of spiritual growth in learning to trust God for everything in life. It’s no wonder then that Peter calls the promises of God “very great and precious” promises and goes on to tell us that in those promises lie the God ordained means of partaking of the divine nature.
2 Peter 1:3–4 (ESV) — 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
Let’s explore just a few of the “pocket full of promises” concept if you were to carry such an implement by which you make use of the promises of God.
You would be reminded that you have hope of eternal life based upon God’s promise that He made before the foundation of the world, and He never lies.
Titus 1:2 (ESV) — 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began
You would be reminded that all the promises of God have their YES in the Lord Jesus Christ as He is God’s stamp to say what He promises He carries out which is why we can shout AMEN to every promise which comes from Him and through Jesus Christ our Lord.
2 Corinthians 1:20 (ESV) — 20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
There’s a precious statement found in the book of Joshua that reminds us of the surety of God’s promises as Joshua reminds the people of Israel that everything God had promised came to pass.
Joshua 21:45 (ESV) — 45 Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.
As we consider the way we should respond to the promises of God, we would be instructed to follow the lead of Abraham. God made several promises to him and Abraham believed God, even though there were many things that would seem it didn’t make sense at the time to just believe God and His promises. That is called faith.
Romans 4:13–20 (ESV) — 13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. 16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. 20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,
Hence, we need to reach for the promises of God, read them, believe them, and trust God to fulfill what He has promised, lest we let this goldmine of encouragement slip through our hands as we waste our time trying to figure things out instead of simply resting upon God’s word as true.
Hebrews 4:1 (ESV) — 1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.
If you need encouragement or direction, who is there that is not in need of either, then turn to the promises of God.
James 1:5–8 (ESV) — 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV) — 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
The point is simply this: We need the promises of God to make it through life and to grow in our faith. God has provided so many “great and precious” promises that we may get overwhelmed as we search for an applicable promise. There are, however by God’s grace, a plethora of resources that are handy ways to find a promise from God’s word to fit the need of the moment. Remember that God has said that He has exalted His name by His word (Psalm 138:2) so when we honor His word by holding on to one of His many promises then we are honoring His name, while all the while the Spirit of God takes the word of God and encourages our hearts to believe the promises. As you read and hold to His promise prepare to be grateful. Why? Consider the following promise:
Ephesians 3:20–21 (ESV) — 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker
