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GOD'S PROMISES

By faith Abraham, when CALLED TO GO ... , obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going (Hebrews 11:8 NIV). 

Then the word of the Lord came to him ... He took him outside and said, "Look up at the sky and count the stars - if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring (seed) be." Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:4-6 NIV). 

"No longer will you be called Abram ; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations (Genesis 17:5 NIV)." 

"... and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you (Genesis 12:3 NIV; Galatians 3:8,16,28,29)." 

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead - since he was about a hundred years old - and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised (Romans 4:18-21 NIV). 

Now ... the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised (Genesis 21:1 NIV). 

God keeps his promise! 

Faith has an element of patience that helps us trust the Lord in all kinds of circumstances. In this way he strengthens us and helps us to honour him.

Impatience and prematurely forcing things can produce their own results. But it is far better to hold on to him and to his word that he has spoken. 

Let's gratefully survey his promises that have already come to pass, confidently trusting God for those that still have his appointed time of fulfilment. And let's continue moving forward with Christ in faith, doing what he wants us to do now at the present time. We might be taken by surprise, as we realise that we've been walking into his purpose for us all along.

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Barbara and I met and fell in love when, unknown to each other, we were following God's plan for our lives. We've been married more than 33 years. 

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This is my first attempt at publishing a blog (January 2014). I'll need to take this a step at a time. Contents will not be chronological, but I intend them to be related. I'm trusting God that many will be encouraged and strengthened as they believe in and continue to follow Jesus.