HE IS FAITHFUL (DEVOTIONAL)

Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind.

Has he ever spoken and failed to act?  Has he ever promised and not carried it through?

This verse spoke to me today... :) With all of the distractions that come our way coupled with what feels to be a deep well of memories, words spoken, disappointments, joys, etc that we have stored up in our minds and hearts- it is amazing to me that I would even hear His still, small voice in my heart at all.   

Have you prayed for something and then didn't see your prayer answered in the WAY or in the TIMING that you had hoped?  I have.   

Have people let you down? ____  Have YOU let people down?  ____

Do we project what others have done (i.e., Moms, Dads, Mentors, Friends, etc.) upon God's character? ____  

(i.e., "I feel as though my parents are disappointed with me, thus God must be, too."  "This person failed to keep his or her promise.  Does God?")

God is not human but created us in His likeness... "likeness"- which means He made us unique compared to all of creation (even unique in comparison to the angels).  He gave us a spirit.  God is spirit.  

John 4:24
For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

When we ask God to be our God and Jesus to live in our hearts- to know Him deeply, follow His voice and guidance, He answers.  Our asking this of God is prayer and it is putting our confidence and hope in Him.  "Jesus, I want to know you... I know I need you.  Please live in my heart and show me Who You are." (This is choosing Him)

Hebrews 6:18-20 (New Living Translation)

¹⁸ So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, **we who have fled to Him for refuge** can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that is before us. ¹⁹ This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.

God is not human but He demonstrated His deep love for us but sending His Son from a place of security and love (Heaven- in the presence of God: John 17:3) to a place of physical and emotional pain.  Jesus left the loving presence of God to put on our skin and to be born into all that we are born into. He willingly left His power behind and learned how to walk, talk, and seek His Father's preseence in prayer.  He was tempted in ALL ways as we are (Hebrews 4:15) but he prayed and was able to hear God give Him the wisdom and strength and words/truth to not follow through with those temptations. Before His crucifixtion, He prayed to the point that he was sweating blood.  

Have you ever felt this kind of stress?  Definitely feels like it sometimes, I'm sure...     

Mark 14:35-37 (New Living Translation) ³⁵ He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. ³⁶ “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

God, in His wisdom, knew that we needed to see Jesus show that He was fully human and fully God in this moment.  He asked for relief and for God to take away His suffering and change the plan.  Yet, He prayed... He connected with His Father's heart and felt His goodness.  Jesus saw our faces at the cross- reuniting with God.  God poured out comfort and courage to Jesus in that moment.  Jesus saw our faces when thinking upon the cross.  It gave Him JOY to see us reuniting with God and thus He went forward to the cross.  Jesus could have stopped it at any time, but YOU were and are worth it to Him.

Jesus demonstrated faithfulness to us... 2 Timothy 2:13 - if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.  We might drop the ball, lie to others or ourselves, etc.  BUT GOD NEVER DOES.  What He promises He fullfills.  He NEVER LIES to us or makes promises that He won't keep. We can hold onto that anchor of truth in our hearts to survive the waves of temptation to take things into our own hands (vs. talk with God and hope in Him).

"So," (you might be asking) "What are His promises?"

There are many... :) But, I'll share a few for you:  

When you choose Jesus (because He DESIRES- yes, God desires, ALL to know Him and to come to the saving knowledge of the truth) He gives you a piece of Himself...His Spirit...IN YOU (wow... ). He adopts you.  You are His forever.  In His care, you have every spirital blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1), you have eternal life (John 17:3),... In Him, He predenstined (planned for) you to know Christ's love deeply and to grow into the knowledge of Him more and more.  He also promised to never leave  you.  He doens't lie, remember.  Others might leave but God does not. 

Here is a list of other promises:  God always keeps his promises. It's in the Bible, II Corinthians 1:19-20, TLB. "[Jesus Christ] isn't one to say yes' when He means no.' He always does exactly what He says. He carries out and fulfills all of God's promises, no matter how many of them there are; and we have told everyone how faithful He is, giving glory to His name."

God never takes back or changes His promises. It's in the Bible, Psalm 89:34, TLB. "No, I will not break my covenant; I will not take back one word of what I said."

None of God's promises ever fail. It's in the Bible, Joshua 23:14, NIV. "You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed."

We have been promised eternal life. It's in the Bible, I John 2:25, NIV. "And this is what he promised us—even eternal life."

God can do the impossible. It's in the Bible, Luke 18:27, NIV. "Jesus replied, 'What is impossible with men is possible with God.'"

We have been promised new hearts and desires. It's in the Bible, Ezekiel 36:26, TLB. "And I will give you a new heart—I will give you new and right desires—and put a new spirit within you. I will take out your stony hearts of sin and give you new hearts of love."

He has promised forgiveness. It's in the Bible, I John 1:9, NIV. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

He has promised the fruit of the Spirit. It's in the Bible, Galatians 5:22-23, NIV. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

He has promised deliverance from fear. It's in the Bible, Psalm 34:4, NIV. "I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears."

God has promised salvation for our children. It's in the Bible, Isaiah 49:25, NIV. "I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save."

We are promised the Holy Spirit. It's in the Bible, Luke 11:13, NIV. "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

All of our needs will be supplied. It's in the Bible, Philippians 4:19, NIV. "And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

No good thing will be withheld. It's in the Bible, Psalm 84:11, TLB. "For Jehovah God is our Light and our Protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will He withhold from those who walk along his paths."

He has promised wisdom. It's in the Bible, James 1:5, NIV. "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

God has promised peace. It's in the Bible, Isaiah 26:3, NIV. "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You."

God has promised escape from temptation. It's in the Bible, I Corinthians 10:13, NIV. "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

We have the promise of health and healing. It's in the Bible, Jeremiah 30:17, NIV. "But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds."

God has promised protection from harm and danger. It's in the Bible, Psalm 91:10, NIV. "Then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent."

The Bible promises that the dead will live again. It's in the Bible, John 5:28-29, NIV. "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned."

Jesus has promised that he will come again. It's in the Bible, John 14:2-3, TLB. "There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with Me where I am."

He has promised an end to death, sorrow, and pain. It's in the Bible, Revelation 21:4, NIV. "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask... If I or someone else you know (who Loves Jesus) doesn't have the answer we'll pray and seek. Some answers we won't have until we see God face-to-face, but please ask... :)

Love,

Mer.