Thoughts for another day

March 10, 2010

Today's verse: Joshua 21:45. Not one of all the LORD's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled. (NIV – copyright acknowledged)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

I was counseling a lady who was depressed. She wanted to believe in God, but couldn’t. She didn’t have confidence in Him. She just couldn’t believe Him and His Word. I asked her whether she read the Bible regularly to which she said yes. I knew her as one who was used to praying, in her own way perhaps, but spending time with God and I also knew she read the Bible. They why her situation?

I pointed out that God has made many promises in the Bible. Her response took me completely by surprise. She said she had noted a huge number of promises in the Word and she knew many of by rote mentioning a few. I wondered, what then was her problem. I quickly realised that she had the same problem many people have, that is of trying to remember the Word to show others how well they knew it! This kind of closeness to God is no closeness. God’s Word is first for you who read His Word. You start believing in Him very firmly and then you also feel His Presence in your life and suddenly, inspired by His Word and His Being in yours, you can’t but help share it with others. Don’t we know that those who were called apostles were they who walked, talked, dined and shared with the Lord in everything. The essential fact is, they knew Him.

Most of God’s promises are for them who are rooted in Him and dwell with Him. A lady once told me she read psalm 91 everyday and appropriated its promises for herself and her family. I asked her to just tell me the opening verse; and she faltered. When I said the Words, she was shocked: He who dwells… not he who visits! My friend, God’s Words are for each one of us, but we have to commune with Him, enjoy His companionship (I can tell you it is enjoyable) and feel His Spirit in our being. When you do this, you are suddenly transported from being completely unaware to being completely aware of His Presence and you will feel His power. Then His promises become real and true. Then you can just reach out and grab them and you’ll know that all His promises, yes each one of them are fulfilled; not even one fails.