Promises. We make them casually. But our good intentions often succumb to unexpected life turns. We meant to keep our promises but circumstances hindered us.

God’s promises are reliable. This time of year, while looking forward to what the coming year may bring, we also reflect on the past.

With a flood of gratitude we remember all God has brought us through. We’ve trusted him for tough stuff, and he never failed us. Never! We walked through hard places in suffocating fog. But we felt his presence and believed he guided our steps. He’s reliable like that. He always keeps his promises.

Didn’t he say, “I will never leave you or forsake you”?

The Israelites’ journey to the land of promise encourages me. When God called Moses to go to Egypt and lead his people out of bondage, he made promises. I will go with you…I will tell you what to say…I will tell you what to do.

During the forty years they wandered in the wilderness because of their unbelief, God kept his word. He didn’t leave them. He didn’t forsake them.

When the time came to turn over the leadership reins, Moses said to Joshua, “…Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the Lord hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: Fear not, neither be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:7-8).

The Lord gave Joshua a promise. “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them” (Joshua 1:5-6).

God kept his promises.

“And the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. And the Lord gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass” (Joshua 21:43-45).

“Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant” (1 Kings 8:56).

In his final address to the Israelites, Joshua said, “…ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof” (Joshua 23:14).

“For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant. And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness. And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people; That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the Lord.” (Ps. 105:42-45).

God keeps his promises. Always.

Knowing that is good enough for me.

Have you chosen a promise for the year? This might be just what you need.

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:9).

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© Dianne Barker 2019