Where's My Promise God? Did I miss it?

I just love Abraham because he was given such a BIG promise from God even when it seem against all odd. Let's take a peek into a time in his life where the promise of God was being challenged within him and see how you  might just compare to him!

1. You Receive an Amazing Promise from God

Romans 4:17 “A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU”in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. 

There is something so life-giving about having a promise from the Lord!  When you have that promise, it is something that can keep you focused, help you get through the tough days, and gives you the strength you need to keep persevering.  Personally, I have many promises that has been given to me by the Lord, and I have seen many come to pass; but there are many more that have been spoken and are still a live in my heart.

2. You will be challenged with the opportunity to give up hope
18In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.” 

I love that line "hope against hope".  Look at what that word hope means.
Hope= An expectation of evil, fear
Hope= A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen


There was a battle going on in Abraham. He compared hope against hope. The feeling of the promise never coming to pass and the feeling of expecting God to do what He said He would do! What did he do? The word says, HE BELIEVED!


3. You will want to look at the circumstances in your life and compare to God's promises
19Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; 

Here we find Abraham looking at the natural circumstances and wondering how could this ever be? How can God's promises still stand?   The temptation to look at what you see and compare it to the fulfillment of God's promises is always lurking in your mind.  God doesn't look at what man sees, He is looking at the big picture and He knows the perfect timing for your promises to come in your life!  It's all in God's hands! 

Isaiah 55:8-9 (KJV)

⁸ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

BUT...NEVER quit believing or Trusting God
20yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,21and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.
Even though Abraham considered his old age, YET when it came to the Promise of God he did not waver!

Waver=to separate, make a distinction, discriminate, to prefer

Abraham did it for YOU too!
 22Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.23Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him,24but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,25He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

If God is not a respecter of persons, then just as He Promised Abraham and fulfilled His Promise..HE will do the same for you!

Fughettabouit

"But forget all about it- there is nothing compared to what I am going to do!

Isaiah 43:18

The greatest enemy in our life is not other people or the "devil",it is ourselves. God is calling you to the next season of your life that is full of all His precious promises, but you have to be willing to let go of the past and "press on to the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil 3:13)

If God called us to forgive other's as we have been forgiven, don't you think it's as important that you forgive yourself! Forgiving is not an emotion that you will "feel", forgiving and trusting is a "choice" You have to choose to say, I'm NOT looking back anymore, I'm not going to nurse and rehearse all the things in my life that I regret or hate, my dis-appointment's or failures.

The past does not define who you are, you are created in the image and likeness of God!! 

Isaiah was very strong and encouraging us to DISCERN the time!!

The next verse Isaiah 43:19 says, 

Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already—you can see it now. 

I will make a road through the wilderness and give you streams of water there.

It's ALREADY happening, God is making way for you!!  You need to say, "This is the DAY that the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad it!!"

Job said it well, "the righteous keep moving forward" (Job17:9)

Don't Quit? Why?

The people who need to hear the words "DON'T QUIT" are the ones who say, "I don't want to hear 'don't quit', one more time", "you don't understand", "I've given it my all, I've trusted all I can trust". 

Maybe you can relate with Elijah who had great faith, but..

Look at 1 Kings 18:41-43

 41Now Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of the roar of a heavy shower.”42So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he crouched down on the earth and put his face between his knees.43He said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.”

Looking at Elijah's stature at this moment, might tell us, that even though he spoke with great authority to Ahab, the Word and Will of God; he might be concerned with the fulfillment of what God had spoken.  "There was nothing", no manifestation of what God had promised. Where was God, where was His promises, why isn't it happening? Why me God??  Does that sound familiar?

BUT Elijah didn't give UP!  

And he said, “Go back”!!!! seven times. Keep looking, don't give up, My God is faithful! Even though, in his flesh, he may have been afraid it wouldn't happen. He HAD to trust God at His Word.

Promise Fulfilled:
44It came about at the seventh time, that he said, “Behold, a cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea!

Seven: being the number of perfection! In GOD's perfect timing, not ours, HE fulfilled His promise!

You are CLOSER now than you have ever been! Keep moving, Keep trusting!!

I love this quote I found:

When the world says, “Give up,” Hope whispers, “Try it one more time.”
- Author Unknown

“There are many great women, but I am the BEST!”
 Bible Proverbs

You need to feel like you are the BEST because you really are! There is no one like you; you are one of a kind. I have always said, “You are the WAY you are because of WHY you are”. It’s your uniqueness: personality, style, ideas, and ways that make you amazing! Your inner beauty will shine when you remember to Love yourself and not worry about what others think.

 You are the most beautiful at being you! Shout this out “Free to be ME!” Love yourself and your inner beauty will shine!