God’s Promises Are True

Reflect on God’s Word

When God told King David what he planned to do for him in 2 Samuel 7, it must have seemed too good to be true. God promised to make David’s name great, and to give Israel a safe home. God promised that he would establish his kingdom forever through David’s descendants.

David responded to God’s promises with humility and faith. “Who am I, Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?” he prayed (2 Samuel 7:18). He praised God for his faithfulness, and declared, “Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant” (2 Samuel 7:28).

God made promises to David, and he kept those promises. He did make David’s name great. People would sing of him, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7). God gave the nation of Israel a safe home in the promised land. David’s kingdom was established forever, as the line of the Messiah came through him. But that didn’t mean David’s life was easy. David did not always have victory. He experienced loss and heartache. He lost an infant son and an adult son who had rebelled against him. He lost many warriors in battle. He faced the chastisement of the Lord because of his sin. And still he trusted God’s promises.

God has made promises to you, and he will keep his promises even if you are unfaithful to him. God’s faithfulness is not dependent on your performance. God is faithful because God is God. It is his nature to be faithful. But God does not promise that your life will be painless or easy either. It can be tempting to think that God is not keeping up his end of the bargain when life gets hard. But generation after generation after generation has proven his faithfulness.

Let’s look at some of those promises.

In James 1:5, God promises to give us wisdom if we ask for it with faith. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Think of one area in your life where you need wisdom now. God uses his Word, other believers, and circumstances to show us what he wants us to do. Praying for wisdom does not then mean sitting and waiting for revelation from heaven. It means asking, seeking, and knocking on every door God has available.

Jesus promised that those who put their faith in him could never lose their salvation. John 10:27–28 says, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” Thank God for this promise that your salvation is secure, no matter how you may feel on any given day.

God promises to complete the good work that he has begun in you. Philippians 1:6 says, “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” It may feel like your growth is slow—one step forward, two steps back—but God is at work, and God will finish what he has begun. Think about what you looked like, on the inside, before you began following Jesus. Compare that to what you see now. Those areas of growth are proof of God’s faithfulness. It doesn’t mean that you have achieved victory in every area of struggle, but change comes through the power of the Holy Spirit in your life.

God has promised to cleanse you of all your sins when you confess them. First John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” God is faithful and righteous. Because of Christ’s sacrifice, you have been made righteous too.

One promise God makes to all believers is the promise that he will never leave us or forsake us. Joshua 1:5 says, “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

When you are tempted to sin, God promises to provide a way out. First Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” Think about a time when you were tempted to sin. Maybe you were tempted to flirt with a married coworker. Or maybe you were tempted to lie to get yourself out of trouble. How did God show up for you in whatever situation you were in?

Today, remember the ways God has kept his promises. Reflect on what you know of God’s character. And trust that he will be faithful in the future.

Release the Lies

Take a deep breath in and slowly release it. As you continue to breathe, slowly and deeply, practice proclaiming your trust in God.

Inhale: “God, your words are true.”

Exhale: “I trust you.”

Inhale: “Your words are true.”

Exhale: “I trust you.”

Consider this your invitation to slow down and center your heart on the truth of God’s character and his love for you. God is good. His love and mercy never end. And he has promised to be with you always.

Pause and take another deep breath, breathing in God’s promises and breathing out doubt and fear. Each time doubt that God will keep his promises crops up in your mind, repeat the words, “Your words are true.”

If you hear in your mind, “God has left you alone. You are not good enough for him,” repeat the words from Joshua 1:5: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

If you hear, “Your sins are too bad and too many; they can never be forgiven,” repeat the words from 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Counter the lies you hear with the truth from God’s Word. His promises are always true. To know what God says, you must be spending time in his Word, the Bible. Commit to studying Scripture so you can fight the lies of the enemy with this mighty sword of the Spirit.

Faithful God, I haven’t done anything to deserve the great promises you’ve given me, but you are full of grace. Your mercy and kindness and faithfulness are never-ending. I trust you because you have been faithful to your people from generation to generation. Help me to trust you more every day. Thank you for your faithfulness to me. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.

JOURNAL PROMPT: What are some promises of God you have clung to in the past? What are some promises you can apply to your life right now?