New Year, Old Promises

It’s a new year which always makes me feel like I have a new start and can accomplish new goals and endeavors. I liken it to finishing a journal and starting a new one. Just such a good feeling! With this new year I am looking forward to going through some of God’s promises with you, and focusing on a different one each month. As I go through different challenges or hardships in life, it is the knowledge and application of God’s promises that keep me rooted and able to press on. I love studying more about God’s promises and how to apply them to my life and I am excited to embark on this new journey with you. So grab a cute mug, fill it with your favorite coffee or tea, and plop down in your most comfy chair.


The first promise we’ll be studying is from Romans 8:28. This verse states, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose”. What wonderful, encouraging, captivating words! For those who are in Christ we can know that everything we go through, no matter how difficult and discouraging, or how wonderful and uplifting, God is working it out for our best. However, keep in mind that His best may look slightly different than your idea of “best”. His plan for us is to grow us in our sanctification. Sometimes that is painful and hard, but the goal is for us to become more like Jesus. That is different than looking at a super cute purse that you would love to sling over your shoulder and walk out of the store with, but deciding to pass it up. Inevitably you will get home and decide you really should have it, but when you go back to the store it’s already gone. So according to this passage there should be a better purse out there somewhere for you and it will be on sale, right?! Wrong. Well, I guess that could happen, but that’s not what this verse is saying. It is important to begin aligning our view of “good” with God’s view of “good”. While our Father loves to give good gifts, He also knows that the best kind of “good” for us is to become more like His Son, Jesus. We can rest assured that everything we go through, God can use to grow us and strengthen us, and transform us more into the image of Christ. Whoa, that’s way better than a new purse! The cry of my heart is to be more like Jesus and less like Sara, and this verse is exactly what I need to take to heart. There will be many times in life when we are tempted to give up, throw in the towel, or resort to a day of sobbing in bed. In those times, look up, weary one. The Lord, your Father, loves you and is transforming you more into His likeness, so take heart. 

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