Three Promises You Can Count on for the New Year

In today’s world, promises often don’t mean very much. Too often, they are broken or simply never fulfilled. Instinctively, we know we can’t count on someone’s word. It can be hard to trust each other. Yet something in us longs for one who is trustworthy, one who will come through, one who will never leave us.

It’s our Father in heaven that we long for even when we don’t realize it.

Peter says it this way: “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life 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…” 2 Peter 1:4

One of the most significant things in my spiritual journey has been learning to take God up on his promises—little ones, big ones—daily.

A friend texted, “Susan, I’m going to stop by and help you hang all those family photos. Just tell me when.” Her offer has been given, but I have to take her up on it.

Learning to take God up on His promises has been a game-changer for me.

It has been said that there are over 3000 promises in the New Testament alone that our Father has waiting for us. We simply need to take Him up on them.

Here are three to focus on as we begin a new year.

1. HIS POWER

I awoke in a bad mood. Discouraged, overwhelmed by my stuff, sadness for close friends in a crisis, frustrated by things I can’t fix. I was in a “funk.”

Susan, I said to myself, Life is not all about you or how you are feeling. It’s much more about your heavenly Father and His power.

“Great is the Lord and mighty in POWER. His understanding has no limit.” Psalm 147:5

When I feel like no one understands or I don’t even understand myself HE does.

“You’ve got me, Father. You’ve got this. Your almighty power is greater than my stuff.”

“For nothing is impossible for Him.” Luke 1:37

When I can’t see a solution, or I lose hope, I have to fall back on this promise. He can redeem anyone or anything. It may not be on my timetable or how I would do it. He is far more creative and far more loving than I can imagine. He is working while we are waiting.

2. HIS PROVISION

A new crisis, a new calling, an unexpected loss. Life is full of hard stuff. Fear rushes in. Thoughts of “what if…” or “how will I …” It’s all too easy for me to let my fears become bigger in my head than my God. I forget that He is the loving Father who will provide a way.

In the midst of our fears, we can count on His provisions. The children of Israel had no food.

Starving in the wilderness, they wondered, “What will we eat? How will we provide for our children?”

God said, “I will provide,” and He sent manna, a type of bread, daily for them to eat.

They wondered, “But what about tomorrow?” To solve this problem, they tried to store up the manna for the future. But it rotted. They had to go back to relying on His provision one day at a time. So do we, and sometimes it’s one hour at a time.

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 (Note: needs not necessarily wants.)

There are times when He doesn’t give us what we believe we need, but even then, we can choose to trust Him because He is still our loving Father who knows us best.

Have you ever felt, I can’t do this. Perhaps it’s a new calling, a good yet hard thing. “But God, you know I’m not, I can’t…”

One of my favorite promises is 1 Thessalonians 5:24.

“The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.”

When I feel inadequate, that’s good. I can’t turn into He can. He will equip us for what He calls us to. I have to take Him up on this promise over and over again.

3. HIS PRESENCE

Our 6-year-old grandson’s liver was failing. He could die. This was totally unexpected, and he was now in the ICU. Friends and family gathered in the hospital chapel to pray. Together we wept as we heard a helicopter land on the hospital pad, bringing him a new liver which was to save his life. But in this moment, I knew we could lose him. In my tears, I was reminded that we could lose everything, our homes, our resources, our health, our jobs, our people, anything at any time.

BUT one thing, Immanuel, we could not lose HIM. God with us.

“You have searched me Lord, and you know me.” Psalm 139:1

He knows our fears. He can handle them.

“Never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

Over and over again in the good times and the hard times, on a beautiful walk in nature or sitting beside a friend who is dying, His presence is with us. Often, I pray, You are a “with me” God. Right at this moment, you are with me. Help me rest in this promise in this place.

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When we adopt a practice of claiming God’s promises, our perspective will be restored. Once again, I allow Him to become bigger in my life than my stuff.

When we focus on His power, wait for his provision, and when we walk with an assurance of his presence, then HOPE will overcome Fear.

It’s a moment-by-moment journey every day. We will never get it quite right this side of heaven, but our heavenly Father knows this, understands this, and He will be our HELPER.

You might try the following to encourage you today.

Write out 2-3 promises from scripture to take God up on. The Psalms are full of them.

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A few years ago, I realized that often when I woke up and began to think about my day, I became discouraged.

Paul says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what the will of God is, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

This was a wake-up call for me as I knew my mind needed to be renewed. Yet, how to do this? I began to focus on one character trait of God each morning. It evidently became a booklet. You’ll find them in the One Devotional, One Word, One Verse, One Thought for 100 Days. I hope it will encourage you in this new year.