Your Promise Gives Me Life
Well the holidays are over, and most of us are (or very soon will be) back to our realities of work, school, caregiving, retirement, etc... Often, people associate things like sadness and depression with the holidays as the losses of loved ones are acutely felt, and while that is certainly true, the January Blues are just as real. In reality, affliction, sadness and the like have no timetable and are no respecter of persons. So where do we turn to fight the January Blues or February's Funk?
The Psalmist in Psalm 119:50 offers this reflection, "This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life." In the midst of trouble, where do we turn? God's word is where help is to be found, specifically, in the promises of covenant making and covenant keeping God. Here are a few promises with attendant prayers I have collected over the years. May they encourage you and perhaps be a model for your own praying!
“You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God”. 1 Corinthians 6:11
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—glorious Trinity, this one verse reminds me how the entire Godhead has secured my irrevocable, magnificent salvation. How astonishing, comforting, and humbling. Father, you washed and justified me, by the finished work of Jesus. And by the Holy Spirit, you set me apart for yourself, and my sanctification (my Christlikeness) is so certain, it can be spoken of in the past tense. I am undone with joy, filled with gratitude, and set free to love and serve others.
"I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” Jeremiah 31:3
Most gracious Father, enlarge the chambers of my heart, that I might take in more of the wonder of this good news. You have drawn me to yourself with an unfailing, irresistible, powerful love—not because of anything in me, but because of everything in Jesus. Right now and forever, you love me with an unwavering, everlasting love. I cannot intensify, nor diminish, your love for me. Unaided, I don’t—I cannot believe this is true. By your Holy Spirit, I rest and rejoice in this astonishing reality. It makes me want to love and serve you with everything I have and am.
“We will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words” 1 Thess. 4:18
Lord Jesus, you may not be coming back as soon as I wish. Or you may return quicker than I can imagine. Either way, this is the good news. Once with you, I will be with you forever. That’s what I want more than anything else—even if I don’t realize it. It’s not people’s love, the world’s possessions, or a pain-free life I want the most. It’s you I crave and long for. The good news is, because of the Gospel, I’m already yours. My life is already hidden in you, and you indwell me by the Holy Spirit. But please hasten the Day of your return. Until then, be more real and precious to me than anything else, Jesus. In your loving name I pray, Amen.
I'd love to hear some of your favorite promises.
Photo by Jorge Fernández Salas on Unsplash