Copyright 2015 Linda Knight,
All rights reserved.
Published in eBook format by Certa Publishing
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ISBN-13: 978-0-9965-7138-8
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Dedication
To my Bible Study Fellowship Sisters
who faithfully serve our LORD
and
To my Mom and Dad for their love and faith
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
2 Peter 1:3-4
Promises, Really Lord?
After I published my first book, Fearless Living, people asked me if I was going to write a second book. Since I never thought I would write even one book, I couldn’t imagine God giving me a second one. However, while I was publishing my first book, God gave me a new idea to research. As I was studying the book of Genesis, I began to notice promises that God gave to Abraham that could apply to me. I started searching His Word for promises that I could claim in my own life. Each day, I would look up a new promise, write it in my journal, pray, and ask God what He was promising me through that particular verse. I saw His character revealed more and more and the vast scope of His promises. I became really excited about His promises, and what a difference I could see they were making in my life! I thought, I’m not the only one who needs to know the promises of God, nor am I the only one who needs His Word to penetrate in my life. Through His encouragement, Promises for Dynamic Living began to develop and become alive.
Knowing that pulling verses out of context could lead to error and misunderstanding, I searched God’s Word to verify the chosen passages. Great promises of God are stated repeatedly in various contexts so that we can get the idea and claim the promise. Each day’s devotional promise explains the truths we learn about God and where we can find a similar promise or concept in the Bible. I must admit, this search was a challenge and caused me to think, meditate, and internalize God’s promises, as I saw them reaffirmed throughout His Word.
Through the writing of this book, I have seen the completeness of God’s Word and how He has woven it together to confirm, assure, and build us up to be the men and women He desires. His Word in us glorifies Him, and He longs for us to study and know Him. When I work with young people, I try to teach them that God’s Word, on the pages of our Bible, holds the same power as the spoken word of God, which brought the world into existence. There is power in His Word and He desires that we know His Word and claim it in our lives.
I am so encouraged because the depth of God’s promises span throughout the entire Bible. God’s promises are not just limited to those things given to us by Christ. God has been in the promise-making business from the very beginning of His relationship with man. He knows us and knows that we need assurance of who He is and what He will do in, and through, our lives. I pray you will find promises in both the Old and New Testaments to enrich your walk with the Lord and that it brings you assurance of His loving character. May His promises remove any, and all, doubts you are experiencing. Claiming His promises in your life will dispel doubt and fear. It will lead you on the pathway toward assurance and HOPE in Christ.
Blessings,
Linda
How To Use This Devotion
I know, from all the people I have talked to after writing Fearless Living, that there are many ways to approach a devotional. I have a friend that completed several days at one time, yet others completed the days with friends once a week. The how is not as important as the doing. So do what God leads you to do in order to get the most out of these days in your own life.
You could use each day as your daily devotion. Here are some steps to consider for getting the most out of your quiet time in God’s Word:
•Pray before you begin each day and ask God for understanding.
•Read the selected promise and focus on what God is promising.
•Look at the listed “Lessons and Truths” about God and link them to the chosen promise.
•Pray the prayer.
•Answer the application questions and pray about them.
•Search the Scriptures for the “Promise Confirmation” verses, and think about how this adds to your knowledge of God and His purpose for you.
Other Ideas:
1.You could do one or two days a week, taking the time to memorize each day’s Scripture. God encourages us to memorize His Word. Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” God can use each of the promises to encourage and assure you. If you memorize them, the Holy Spirit can and will bring them in to remembrance when you need them the most.
2.You could do the days yourself and then join with a friend to challenge each other in the memorization of the verses. If you decide to memorize the Scriptures, use the “Promise Confirmation” verses as your study material for your daily devotions while you are working on memorization.
3.I have also included a “Subject Table of Contents” for the days. Each category could be a study by itself. You may be troubled by sin and in need of assurance of God’s forgiveness. Looking at all the days that relate to forgiveness may help you better understand His forgiveness. It will allow you to come out from under the burden of sin troubling you. Perhaps you want to be more courageous, focusing on ‘courage’ in God’s promises will be reassuring and empowering.
Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you as delve into His Word. As for me, I am going to take the memorization challenge. I have some of the verses memorized, but there are many that I do not know. I find that there is a great benefit in learning these promises and knowing where they are located in the Bible. The hope and encouragement which memorizing these promises will bring me, will far exceed the time and energy I invest in learning. Memorizing Scripture has eternal value. Once you memorize a verse, it cannot be taken away from you. It will be with you for eternity.
I would love to hear from you, if you accept the challenge and endeavor to hide God’s Word in your heart. Life is a constant challenge, and having God’s Word in our minds, and hearts is a way for God to, constantly, assure and reassure us of His love and presence. 2 Timothy 3: 16-17 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Consider this promise as a way of God teaching and training you for His righteousness. To God be the glory for the great things He has done and great things He will do in—and through—us!
Day 1
God’s Mercies
Lamentations 3:21-23
“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Promise: God promises His love and faithfulness will never end and His mercies are new each morning.
What