What the promises can do for you
In the past few weeks, the Lord planted a sustainingverse in my spirit.
From Psalm 119:50, “My comfort in mysuffering is this; Your promise preserves my life.”
It’s good to know the word translated as “preserves”in the NIV is in the original language, the word “chayah,” which the Strong’s Concordancesays means “to live” or “to be alive.” It is used in the Old Testament inseveral ways including physical and spiritual revival as well as “restorationfrom the dead. The term can also imply thriving or flourishing, indicating astate of well-being and vitality.”
There are many nuances of “chayah” and hereare a few of the various meanings given through Old Testament scriptures:preserve alive, give life, quicken, restore to life, cause to grow, revive inGod’s favor, quicken, restore to health, nourish, and there are several more,but you get the picture. The word “chayah” has an all-encompassing meaning whichwraps in our body, souls, minds, and spirits.
So, when I read “Your promise preserves mylife,” I once more grasp the importance of God’s promises in his word. His promiseshave the power to sustain us in every possible way. We can live on his promises,breathe his promises, and as the lyrics of a song we are fond of singing at ourchurch say, we can stand on those promises. Those promises have the power torestore what is broken, revive what is listless, grow what is wilting, nourishwhat is hungry, and even to surge life into what is dead.
Depending on who’s counting, the number ofpromises in the Bible range from 3,000 to 8,000. Here are ten randomly chosenones:
“I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews13:5).
“…He who began a good work in you willcarry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday,today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
“For the Spirit God gave us does not makeus timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (I Timothy 1:7).
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you shouldask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will begiven to you” (James 1:5).
“He anointed us, set his seal of ownershipon us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is tocome” (2 Corinthians 1:22).
“I can do all this through him who givesme strength” (Philippians 4:13).
“My grace is sufficient for you, for mypower is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 10:9).
“He is before all things, and in him allthings hold together” (Colossians 1:17).
“And my God will meet all your needsaccording to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
And so many more. I pray that you, toofind God’s promises sustaining in your life, that they are posted around yourhome, and written in your heart.
In these parts, we have counted on thosepromises to carry us through difficult days in weeks past and continue to holdon to them as we navigate the future.
Blessings and may his promises be yours.
