Holding On to the Promise

Have you ever been promised something by someone that just didn't seem to make much sense?  You know what I'm talking about - they told you what they were promising, and when you looked at the circumstances surrounding the promise, you just saw no way possible that it could, should or would happen.  So consequently, you didn't put much time into belief that it would happen.


The Bible is replete with examples of promises that God has made to people that defied logic and circumstance.  
In fact, God has often made promises to of us - and in many cases, they defy the circumstances in which we find ourselves.  Looking at what Paul says about Abraham in Romans chapter 4 can give us some insight into how we can hold on to the promises God makes to us - even when they promise seems to defy logic.


1.) Hear and receive the promise from God.  Romans 4:18 says, "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."  The first step in holding on to the promises that God has for us it to hear and receive them in the first place.  Abraham heard from the Lord - and he received the promise that God made to him.


2.) Face our circumstances ... and don't flinch.  Romans 4:19-20 says, "Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead - since he was about a hundred years old - and that Sarah's womb was also dead.  Yet he did not waver through unbelief in the promise of God ..."  The circumstances in our lives often defy any logic to promises that we hear and receive from the Lord.  Yet, we ought not flinch in our faith and belief that God will do what He said He would do.  Why?


3.) Understand that the promise of God is not contingent on our circumstances, but on His ability to fulfill His word.  Verse 21 of Romans 4 says that Abraham was "fully persuaded that God had the power to do what He had promised."  Realize that, when God says He will do something, our circumstances neither hinder nor help that promise.  The fulfillment of what we as humans says is many times contingent on what's going on around us.  But not so with God.  What He promises us transcends all that we see, feel and experience around us.  He has the power to do what He promised - and nothing and no one can change that!


So be encouraged today ... hear what God is promising you, face your circumstances without flinching, being aware that nothing affects the promise He's made, because He has the power to do what He's promised!