Unshakable Hope: Building Our Lives on the Promises of God

by Max Lucado

In fact, this story gives us Jesus’ definition of faith: faith is the deeply held belief that God will keep his promises.

The question is not, will God keep his promises, but, will we build our lives upon them?

you were created by God, in God’s image, for God’s glory.

God made us to reflect the image of God.

God’s goal is simply this: to rub away anything that is not of him so the inborn image of God can be seen in us.

According to the Bible you are good simply because God made you in his image. Period. He cherishes you because you bear a resemblance to him. And you will only be satisfied when you engage in your role as an image bearer of God.

I was made for God’s glory and am being made into his image.

People are to look at us and see not us but the image of our Maker.

The Bible names a real and present foe of our faith: the devil. The Greek word for “devil” is diabolos, and it shares a root with the verb diaballein, which means “to split.”5 The devil is a splitter, a divider, a wedge driver.

We play into the devil’s hand when we pretend he does not exist. The devil is a real devil.

Be alert to the devil, but don’t be intimidated by him.

The God who brings peace will soon defeat Satan and give you power over him. (Rom. 16:20 NCV)

Satan will not linger long where God is praised and prayers are offered. Satan may be vicious, but he will not be victorious.

No, you are a child of God. You have legal right to the family business and fortune of heaven.

The will has been executed. The courts have been satisfied. Your spiritual account has been funded. He “has blessed [you] with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3 NKJV).

God is affluent! Wealthy in love, abundant in hope, overflowing in wisdom.

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him. (1 Cor. 2:9 NLT)

“Mrs. Worrywart. Why do you let your fears steal your sleep? Jesus has abundant peace. Are you not a beneficiary of God’s trust fund? Put in your request.”

Your prayers impact the actions of God.

“When a believing person prays, great things happen” (James 5:16 NCV). You are never without hope, because you are never without prayer.

Pride not only prevents reconciliation with God; it prevents reconciliation with people.

“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5

Humility is healthy because humility is honest.

And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. (Dan. 4:34, 37)

Jesus is the sinless and perfect high priest. When he speaks, all of heaven listens.

What Satan intends for evil, Jesus will use for good.

“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).