Hearing His Voice #118

Not a single one of all the good promises the LORD had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.

Joshua 21:45

I thought I had blown it. I had clung to God’s promise for years, and then I made a momentary decision that could have forfeited everything. Human decisions can’t thwart the overall purpose of God, but can they thwart our participation in it? After all, Esau lost his birthright and his blessing, Moses never made it to the Promised Land, and Saul caused God to regret making him king. Had I forfeited my promise too?

I went to church that night with a heavy heart and lots of questions. “Lord, are You ever going to do what You said You’re going to do? I don’t know if I can hang on any longer. I just need to know. Tell me whether to keep believing or not. I need to know if You’re going to do this.” I spent two hours pleading with God to speak to me.

It was a night of prophetic ministry, so I asked a team to listen to God for me. They prayed and asked the Spirit to speak. Then one of them said, “I see you hanging on the edge of a cliff and wondering if you can hang on any longer. God wants you to know He’s going to do what He said He’s going to do. He is so proud of you for hanging on to faith in all these hard places. You don’t have to worry that He’s not going to do it. He’s not going to let you down. It’s going to happen.”

I was bawling. I can’t remember ever needing God’s word more desperately, or hearing it so clearly. He not only affirmed His promise, He assured me I hadn’t blown it. God does not withdraw His promises, even when we think we’ve missed them. He encourages us to the end.

Lord, I can agree with Hudson Taylor: “There is a living God. . . . He means what He says and will do all He has promised.” Give me faith to believe You will fulfill everything You’ve ever spoken to me.