CURRENT SERIES: NEW BEGINNINGS
DAY 6: A NEW BEGINNING…WITH GOD’S PROMISES IN OUR HEARTS
By Benescke Janse van Rensburg
After Day 4’s devotion last week in which I talked about the importance of having faith in God’s promises, several readers asked me how they can identify God’s promises for their own lives.
Before we get to the promises, let me remind you of the words in 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
The Word of God is living and active. It is the flashlight on our path through life and our ammunition in our fight against the enemy – Jesus used the Word of God to combat the enemy when tempted in the desert. How do we do it? Here are some practical examples:
LONELINESS: If the enemy tries to convince you that you are alone and nobody cares about you, remind him of God’s words in Hebrews 13:5: “For God Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”
CONCERN: If the enemy tries to convince you that you will never receive a breakthrough from your current crisis, remind him of the words in Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
QUARREL WITH A LOVED ONE: If the enemy makes you believe that your marriage is on the rocks or that a broken relationship with a friend, colleague or child will never be restored, remind him of God’s words in Ezekiel 36:26: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
HEALING: If the doctors give you a bad report or the enemy makes you feel that you will never receive healing, remind him of the words in Isaiah 53:5: “... and with His (Jesus’) stripes we are healed.”
WISDOM: If the enemy makes you doubt whether you made the right decision in your workplace or in your family, remind him of the words in James 1:5: “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”
Go back to God’s Word. Write down His promises for your situation. When you feel discouraged again, go back to these promises and re-confirm them. In this way, your faith in God will be strengthened and the enemy will lose his grip on you. Remember, He (and His promises) never changes! God bless.
Before we get to the promises, let me remind you of the words in 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
The Word of God is living and active. It is the flashlight on our path through life and our ammunition in our fight against the enemy – Jesus used the Word of God to combat the enemy when tempted in the desert. How do we do it? Here are some practical examples:
LONELINESS: If the enemy tries to convince you that you are alone and nobody cares about you, remind him of God’s words in Hebrews 13:5: “For God Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”
CONCERN: If the enemy tries to convince you that you will never receive a breakthrough from your current crisis, remind him of the words in Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
QUARREL WITH A LOVED ONE: If the enemy makes you believe that your marriage is on the rocks or that a broken relationship with a friend, colleague or child will never be restored, remind him of God’s words in Ezekiel 36:26: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
HEALING: If the doctors give you a bad report or the enemy makes you feel that you will never receive healing, remind him of the words in Isaiah 53:5: “... and with His (Jesus’) stripes we are healed.”
WISDOM: If the enemy makes you doubt whether you made the right decision in your workplace or in your family, remind him of the words in James 1:5: “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”
Go back to God’s Word. Write down His promises for your situation. When you feel discouraged again, go back to these promises and re-confirm them. In this way, your faith in God will be strengthened and the enemy will lose his grip on you. Remember, He (and His promises) never changes! God bless.
Father God, thank You that Your Word stands firm. Help me to keep Your promises in my heart to fight any thoughts that make me doubt in You. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen
** Benescke Janse van Rensburg is a freelance journalist and author of the books, Ontdek God in die stories van mense and also Wysheid, oordenkings uit Spreuke.