“Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel just as He promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises He gave through His servant Moses.” – 1 Kings 8:56, NIV

A story is told of a brother who was seen standing on top of his Bible.

When asked why, his response was: “The pastor told us to stand on the promises of God!”

Anyway, the popular hymn ‘Standing on the Promises’ was composed by Rusell Carter, an ordinary Christian who was teaching science at a military academy in 1886.

The hymn arose from a serious health crisis that he faced in his early 30s.

Thankfully, God healed him completely and he went on to live for another 50 years!

The promise of divine healing became a reality in his life.

In the Greek, the word for ‘promise’ is a legal term, which denotes an undertaking to do or give something, as is the case in a will.

In that context, it signifies something freely and graciously offered or bestowed.

That is why the word ‘covenant’ is often used interchangeably with ‘promise’ in the Bible (see Galatians 3:16-18).

Our meditation today comes from King Solomon’s prayer when he was dedicating the magnificent temple that he had built for God.

He declared that God had been faithful in all the promises that He made since Genesis.

In other words, he prophetically saw the eternal dynasty of David as the eventual fulfillment of all the promises of God.

In 2 Corinthians 1:20, the Bible says; “all the promises of God in [Christ] are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God.”

Every promise that God has made to you – big or small – is ‘Yes’ and ‘Amen’ in Christ!

We may celebrate every promise because it is not only precious and valuable but also sure enough to be stood upon with both feet like a solid rock.

In reference to Abraham as an example of what our attitude should be to the promises of God, Romans 4: 20-21 says; “he did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.”

By “giving glory to God,” Abraham was showing that the object of his faith was God Himself, not just the promise.

Abraham and indeed his wife, Sarah, acknowledged that God was faithful enough to keep everyone of His promises.

“And by faith Sarah…. considered Him faithful who had made the promise” (Hebrews 11:11).

That shows that appropriating God’s promises is a personal affair; not even Abraham could do it on Sarah’s behalf; she had to do it herself.

The Bible shows that God expects us to respond to those promises in three ways.

First, we must see their fulfillment from afar off, be assured of them and embrace them by faith (Hebrews 11: 13). 

Second, we must meditate on each one of them (Psalm 119:148).

That means reciting them with your mouth and babbling them in your heart until they become a reality.

Third, we must approach God’s promises with patience and endurance (Hebrews 10:36).

Fulfilled promises come to those who can wait and endure trying circumstances.

Lastly, we must “rejoice” in the promises “like one who finds great spoil” (Psalm 119:162).

Every promise of God is like a post-dated cheque.

We may celebrate every promise because it is not only precious and valuable but also sure enough to be stood upon with both feet like a solid rock.

Prayer:

Almighty God, I am standing on Your promises because You’re faithful. Help me to meditate, to embrace and rejoice in Your promises now and forever more, Amen!