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PROMISES OF GOD 21 day Devotional

BRAD SADLER

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Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2019 by Brad Sadler All rights reserved

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical,

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photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without prior written permission of the copyright owner.

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Contents Introduction 6 ................................

Day 1 18 .......................................

Day 2 23 .......................................

Day 3 27 .......................................

Day 4 31 .......................................

Day 5 34 .......................................

Day 6 38 .......................................

Day 7 41 .......................................

Day 8 44 .......................................

Day 9 48 .......................................

Day 10 52 .....................................

Day 11 56 .....................................

Day 12 60 .....................................

Day 13 63 .....................................

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Day 14 66 .....................................

Day 15 69 .....................................

Day 16 72 .....................................

Day 17 76 .....................................

Day 18 79 .....................................

Day 19 83 .....................................

Day 20 87 .....................................

Day 21 91 .....................................

God’s Promises Listed 94...................

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Introduction When I think about God’s promises in the Bible, and there are literally hundreds and hundreds of them, I find confidence and assurance for trusting and believing God’s promises in two scriptures.

The first one is “Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the Lord your God has come true. Not a single one has failed.” (Joshua 23:14 NLT)

In Joshua chapter 23, Joshua is on his death bed and he reminds the nation

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of Israel about God’s character. Although Joshua said this to the nation of Israel, there is a truth contained in it for you and me. The truth is that every promise God gives, he fulfills. It gives us confidence and assurance that God’s promises that relate to us as New Testament believers will also be fulfilled and not one will fail.

The other scripture that gives me confidence and assurance in God’s promises is found in the second letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians.

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“For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory”. (2 Corinthians 1:20 NLT)

What Paul is telling the Corinthian church, and us, is that ALL the promises of God are for those that believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. And he goes on to say we will say “amen” and give glory to God. The word “amen” means “so it be” or “it is so”. As we take hold of

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and possess these promises our response to God, through Jesus, is “so be it” or “it is done”, and therein lies our assurance and confidence in God’s promises to us.

As we read God’s promises, it is always a good idea to read the few verses before the verse containing the promise, and a few verses after so that we can get the context of the promise. What is not helpful is using the promises of God as a kind of catalog of solutions to the problems that we face.

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First and foremost, God’s promises give us insight and assurance of his character and secondly they lay a foundation of what we can trust God for. Many promises are called “conditional” promises where there is something we need to do, not do or take a step of obedience for the promise to be fulfilled.

A good example of a “conditional” promise is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT) “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,

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I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”

Do you see the “conditional” part of this promise to heal the land? It’s be humble, pray, seek God’s face and turn from sin.

But apart from “conditional” promises, there are also “unconditional” promises. A great example is found in Genesis 9:11 (NLT) “Yes, I am confirming my covenant with you. Never again will floodwaters kill all living

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creatures; never again will a flood destroy the earth.”

In this scripture God promises never to flood the earth again… full stop.These kinds of promises demand or require absolutely nothing from you or me. It’s a promise from God that stands on its own.

When we read God’s promises for us, it’s also good to ask the Lord if there is anything that is getting in the way of the promise being fulfilled. For example, there is a promise that says

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“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 NLT).

According to this promise, every need we have will be met. You may counter this promise by saying “But at the end of the month, I have more month than money in my bank account, surely that promise is not true?”

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Well, that promise prompts us to ask if we are stewarding what God has provided in a godly and wise way… or are we squandering His provision which gives the perception that the promise to provide for our every need is untrue. No, the promise is true and God is providing, but our ungodly stewardship of His provision is what is causing us not to have enough, not the promise.

So, what I do when I am reading and praying through God’s promises, is I ask the Holy Spirit to search my heart and reveal anything in me that is a

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challenge or an obstacle to the fulfilment of God’s promise in my life. Then I ask God to show me how this promise can be fulfilled in my life.

It sometimes amazes me at what pops up. Listen, you and I have to settle something… God is not out to get us or make us run in circles to have His promises be a reality in our lives. He is a good God, long suffering, merciful and gracious. We need to surrender our lives to him and be in the place of “God you speak, I’ll listen. God you speak, I’ll obey. God you speak, I’ll have life.”

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However this is not just one-way traffic.

God wants us to be in relationship with Him. Yes, we listen, we obey, we find life. But God also wants us to speak to Him. His promises are fulfilled out of a relationship with Him.

Come on, we can do this. This is not rocket-science or trying to get Eskom out of debt. We can do this through the indwelling and empowering of the Holy Spirit as we surrender our lives to Christ as our Lord and Saviour.

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What follows is a 21 day daily devotional on God’s promises. Set aside the time and pause your busy day to go on this journey with me.

You won’t regret it. I promise (no pun intended).

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Day 1 “But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the river bank, bearing fruit in each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do“. (Psalm 1:2-3 NLT)

“Life isn’t a supermarket” is one of the ways to paraphrase this psalm. We can be fooled into thinking that there are many ways to be nourished, we can customise our faith, mix and match as we need. Right? No, wrong!

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There are only two choices set before us. One way plants us, the other way uproots us. The blessed way delights and ponders  (meditates) on God’s Word, and it brings fruitfulness and prospers us in every way.

When we plant ourselves next to the living water of God’s Word, the promise from God is that we would bear fruit and even in tough times we would not wither away, and what’s more, whatever we put our hand to will prosper.

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The Word of God in our lives is like the psalmist says, us being planted next to a stream of water. In Jeremiah you and I are reminded of another description of these trees “Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit” (Jeremiah 17:8 NLT).

Today, why not sink your roots into the Word of God. Read Psalm 1 through and read through Jeremiah 17:1-18. Allow the truth of God’s Word to circulate through every

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corner of your life and nourish your soul.

Promise : If we read and ponder on God’s Word daily and apply it to our lives, we will bear fruit in every season of our lives and have no need to worry or be anxious in the tough times.

Lets pray together : Heavenly Father, show me how to delight in your Word, show me how to enjoy reading the Bible and finding that life giving water that bears fruit in my life. Help me to

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understand and trust what I read in the Bible so that I can bear fruit in every season.

Amen

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Day 2 “If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful. For he cannot deny who he is” (2 Timothy 2:13)

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines faithful as “firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty”. Faithfulness is an attribute of God’s character. This is a biggie for you and me. It means that if God makes a promise and we are obedient to the condition or premise of his promise, then He will fulfill the promise He made.

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Whenever we read of a promise in scripture, the promise is more often than not, accompanied by something we have to trust in or be obedient to. 2 Samuel 22:26 says “To the faithful you show yourself faithful”. Our faithfulness is placing our trust in God alone and in doing that the faithfulness of God towards us is revealed.

The whole matter of God’s faithfulness towards us is such a big deal to God that even when our faith wanes, God’s faithfulness remains

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God’s promise to be faithful to us has been proved over centuries. “He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.”  (Deuteronomy 7:9 NLT)

Are you feeling a bit jaded and tired, as if life is a grind. Well, today you and I can stand on this promise of God’s faithfulness to us.

“But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.”

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2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NLT).

Promise : God’s faithfulness to us is not based on our faithfulness, He is faithful to us because He is a faithful God.

Let’s pray together : Father, I thank you for being so faithful to me, even in those times my faith has waned. I ask that you strengthen me and help me to stand in faith as I trust you with what I have before me today.

Amen.

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Day 3 I often get asked the question “Why do so many people fail to receive the blessing of God’s promises?” And I answer “Because they haven’t learned to walk in the fullness of God’s Word”. And generally the follow up question is “Then how do we walk in the fullness of God’s Word?”

The answer to that is found in Psalm 119:105 (NLT) “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” Walking in the fullness of God’s promises is through reading and

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appropriating God’s Word in our daily lives. There is a declaration in scripture that God’s Word is wholly sufficient for all our needs, found in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT) “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.”

This begs a decision from us. Will we open God’s Word, read it and appropriate the wisdom and

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guidance of God each and every day. As a start, maybe turn to and read the scriptures referred to in each of these 31 daily devotionals on God’s promises in your Bible, each day, even though they are in the devotional.

Physically turn to the scripture references in your Bible and read them and the verses surrounding them. It is one way to get into the habit of opening up the Bible each day and reading it.

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Promise : God’s Word will light up the path before us and guide us faithfully.

Let’s pray together : Father, this morning as I decide to set time aside to open up your Word, I thank you that your Word will illuminate the path before me and reveal your goodness and your will for me each day. I ask that you prepare me and equip me through your Word so that I can walk faithfully and confidently in your promises for me.

Amen.

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Day 4 “But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm” (Proverbs 1:33 NLT)

You and I live in a time that can often be described as “up one day, down the other”. It can feel like the world around us is shaky and uncertain, yet God promises that if we will listen to Him, we will be at ease, no matter the condition of the world around us. The God we serve and worship is not a God of the past, but a God who speaks to us today. God speaks to us through the Bible and as we read the

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scriptures listen to what He is saying through them to you.

Someone once said that reading the Bible each day is like marinating our life in His Word, and you know how good a marinated fillet tastes on the braai…

Why not do some marinating today. Read through the whole of Proverbs 1.

Promise : Hearing God’s voice (through the scriptures) results in us living at ease and without fear.

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Let’s pray together : Father, I ask that as I read your Word, it would be like a sweet marinade to my soul. I pray that your Word soaks into my innermost being and that it brings an ease to my already hectic day. Your goodness and grace is everlasting, to you be the praise and the glory.

Amen.

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Day 5 “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33 NLT)

I don’t know about you, but some days its as if worry and anxiety literally sucks the joy from my life. Here’s a promise that gives that anxiety and worry a “wedgie”. This verse follows on the heels of a teaching Jesus does on God’s provision (verse 19-34). Jesus wants us to know that God is aware of our every need but the way to dodge the

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worry and anxiety over provision is to turn all that worry and anxiety toward God’s Kingdom.

Seek God’s Kingdom first through prayer and reading His Word, allowing God to rule over your situation. Have you ever thought of surrendering your business to His will and His way daily? Does what you and I say and do each day, bring honour to His Kingdom… if not, then maybe we’re not seeking His Kingdom as we should be.

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There’s no better time than now to begin seeking God’s Kingdom because His promise is that you will have everything you need. Read Matthew 6:19-34.

Promise : God’s gives us everything we need when we first seek His Kingdom and His righteousness rather than our own.

Let’s pray together : Heavenly Father, I am not very good and surrendering some stuff to you. Would you help me in those areas, my mind says surrender, but my heart

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wavers. Give me the courage to surrender my all to you and to hold on to your promise that says you will provide for my every need.

Amen.

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Day 6 “Do not be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing in your body and strength for your bones” (Proverbs 3:7-8 NLT)

Our obedience to God’s Word, positions us to receive His promises. God wants to keep us from some of the destructive consequences to our unwise decisions, and this means that we need to lean into His Word. Leaning in means that we trust that God’s ways are far better than ours.

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Proverbs 3:5 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding“. Isn’t that verse just too cool for the pool.

Have you ever run your heart out and at the end, with your legs quivering, you lean against a wall. Doesn’t it feel good. It holds you up when you can’t stand up yourself. Trying to run the race of life without God to lean on brings uncertainty because we aren’t always sure what we’re leaning on is going to continue to support us.

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By saying “lean not on your own understanding“, God is telling us to lean on Him instead. Read Proverbs 3. Promise : Leaning on God’s wisdom rather than our own is healthy and nourishing to our soul, spirit and body.

Let’s prayer together : Lord, I have placed my security in so many other things apart from you. Help me to recognise those things that are unwise to lean on and give me the confidence to lean on you.

Amen.

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Day 7 “God arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes me surefooted as a deer, enabling metro stand on mountain heights.” (Psalm 18:32-33 NLT)

Standing on the top of a mountain is a very different sense to standing on flat ground. The journey to the mountain top is a lot more difficult than walking on flat ground. We find walking on flat ground easy but something in all of us longs for the heights. That longing to soar higher is the entry point for God.

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We have the courage to climb higher, but climbing higher saps our strength. God’s promise is that He will strengthen us and keep us secure as we climb higher and in the end, if we will seek our strength from Him, He will cause us to stand on that mountain top.

The Apostle Paul said it best in Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me“.

Promise : When we find strength in and through a relationship with God

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we can climb the mountains of life successfully.

Let’s pray together : Lord, thank you for your strength in me. I desire to climb to the mountain tops of my business, but would you reveal to me how to draw strength from you because I can’t reach those heights on my own.

Amen.

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Day 8 “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13 NLT)

Even when it seems like we’re living for ourselves, God is at work in our hearts guiding and leading us in what pleases Him. When you surrendered your life to Christ as your Lord and Saviour, the Holy Spirit immediately came and dwelt in you, and it is through His Spirit that God works in and through you to reveal and work out His purposes in your life.

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The blessed life in Christ is when we are attentive to His desires and purposes for our lives and are obedient to these godly desires and purposes, through the strength and wisdom the Holy Spirit imparts to us daily.

This promise means that even when we are walking away from God’s desires and purposes for our life, He is still pursuing us and working to bring them to fruition. In the words of the Borg in Star Trek... “Resistance is futile”. If you have no idea what I am

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talking about, you need to get a life. You need to watch a lot more Star Trek.

Promise : God is working daily in our lives through the power of His Spirit to bring about His purposes for us.

Let’s pray together : Father, I know that at times I am far from you with regards to your desires and purposes for my life, and in those times I don’t always see that despite those times, you continue to pursue your desires and purposes for my life.

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Thank you. This promise is so assuring and I pray that in those times of wandering, you remind me of this promise.

Amen.

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Day 9 “May he equip you with all you need for doing his will.” (Hebrews 13:21 NLT)

God gives us everything we require or need to live a godly life. John the Baptist had it clear in his mind where our daily provision to do God’s will comes from when he said “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven”.

Sounds crazy neh! In other words it means that we can rely on God’s strength, His provision and His mercy

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to give us all we need to do His will each and every day, without stressing. I like that.

It doesn’t mean we can sit back and wait for everything we need to fall out the sky. If you are thinking like that, either you have misunderstood the way God works or you’re lazy and need a ‘warm klap.“

The truth is that when we work hard, trusting God and doing things His way, we need not be anxious about provision for our daily lives. Working hard through the guidance, power

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and wisdom of the Holy Spirit has a different outcome to working hard our way. Will you trust God’s way to being provision for everything you need or trust your way? 1-2-3 block myself, the answer is plain to see.

Promise : God has provided us with everything we need in order to do His will in our lives.

Let’s prayer together : Heavenly Father, I am so good at making things happen without even thinking about you because at the

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heart of it, I am not trusting that your way will provide everything I need. Will you help me with this insecurity?

Amen.

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Day 10 “Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the Lord your God has come true. Not a single one has failed.” (Joshua 23:14 NLT)

The English phrase dictionary says this of “hindsight”. Hindsight is 20/20. It means that "It's easy to know the right thing to do after something has happened.” We could say the same about God’s promises in the Bible. We have the privilege of going back thousands of years in the Bible and scrutinising every promise God made and check the result.

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You already know the answer. God was faithful to keep His promises. If God kept every promise in the past, we can have every confidence that He is a promise keeping God and so can trust He will keep His promises to us today.

This is a biggie because we are surrounded by people who make promises and never keep them. As a result we have all become skeptical about promises. God is different and in the words of a famous Steven Seagal movie... “you can take that to

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the bank.” I know what’s going through your mind “was there a famous Steven Seagal movie?” The point is the quote is awesome and you wish you could have said it.

But it is true. You and I can literally bank our future on God’s promises. For me, that reassuring in the face of all that’s going on around us today.

Promise : No promise God has made will ever fail us.

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Let’s prayer together : Father, please forgive me because many times I have questioned your promises. Help me to rely and stand firm on your promises. I have become skeptical but reveal your steadfastness to me each and every day. I want your promises to be a firm footing beneath my feet and a shield at my side, in the words of the father who came to Jesus about his sick son “help me overcome my unbelief.”

Amen.

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Day 11 “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you.” (Isaiah 26:3 NLT)

There are different types of peace... false peace, inner peace, peace with man and peace with God. We all desire peace, and when it’s not there it can rock our world. Our peace is broken when our thoughts run wild and we begin to imagine all sorts of things that mostly end up not happening. But the prophet Isaiah says “Hey! keep those wild thoughts

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focused on God and peace will reign.”

Yes, I see that hand... “Brad, how do I do that?” Glad you asked. I have some Psalms that I ponder and marinate on when my peace is threatened.

And yes, I see that other hand waving at the back... “Brad, how’s about that list.” I have you covered, here is my favourites list of Psalms for pondering and marinating on when peace alludes me.

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List of Psalms for pondering and marinating :

Psalm 23 Psalm 27 Psalm 34 Psalm 61 Psalm 91

Promise : God gives us peace at all times in every situation.

As you read these Psalms, keep that promise of God in mind... God will give me peace when my trust is in

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Him and my thoughts are focused on Him.

Let’s pray together : Father, I am not sure if I can say this but it is how I feel. Your Word rocks. Thank you for that incredible promise of peace, help me to fix my thoughts on you in those times of turmoil. I pray that as I read those Psalms of peace, you will remove that turmoil from my heart and deposit your peace in it’s place.

Amen.

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Day 12 “For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him.” (Isaiah 64:4 NLT)

Waiting on God sounds very passive. But nothing could be further from the truth. When we pause and wait on God, we are acknowledging that He is in control and the source for everything in our lives. When we wait on God, we are surrendering our will to His will.

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As we wait on God, we are placing our faith in His leading and guiding, in His time. We are saying “Lord, you can do this better than me.”

Psalm 37:7 (NLT) says it so well “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act”.

Promise : God works on our behalf as we wait for Him.

Let’s pray together : Eish! Lord. I can be so impatient at times... okay, I am impatient most

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times. Can you help me with this? Father would you help me with my “pause button” because I know that waiting on you is far better than going ahead without you.

Amen.

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Day 13 “The Lord says, I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8 NLT)

This promise is undergirded by an observation made by King David in Psalm 139. David says “you know everything about me, you know my every thought, you know everything I do and everything I am going to say.” (Psalm 139:1-4)

It is with this in mind that God teaches us which way is best for us to

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go. He knows us so well that He knows what is best for us. The challenge you and I face is that often we want to go our own way and not God’s way.

Promise : God will teach us which is the best way for us to go.

Let’s pray together : Heavenly Father, I can be so hard-headed at times. I know your way is better than mine, but I still do it my way. Would you, in these times, bring to remembrance your goodness in

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my life, your grace that you always lavish upon me and your love which is everlasting. Thank you for always watching over me.

Amen.

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Day 14 “Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3 NLT)

Committing our actions to God means that we literally put our actions into His hands. This is really helpful because you and I know that we can’t put dodgy actions into God’s hands. If we try, it is going to be as successful as Tom Moyane trying to get his SARS job back. Just not going to happen cupcake.

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Committing our actions into God’s hands helps us to realign our actions with His will. Come on now, this is a no-brainer. I want success in all that I do, and I am willing to bet, so do you. Let’s commit all that we do into God’s hands today.

Promise : When we commit all that we do to God, we will succeed.

Let’s pray together : O man Lord, this is a great promise but something I am not always conscious of. I tend to rush through

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the day with all my plans and not put one of them into your hands. Help me with this because I know it is for my own good that you have made this promise to me.

Amen.

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Day 15 “You have seen my troubles and you care about the anguish of my soul.” (Psalm 31:7 NLT)

Caring people are wonderful people to be around. When you’re feeling as fragile as a cupcake, they are a safe place you can come to and share your anguish without feeling judged.

God is even more so. God cares for you and me and also does something about it. Verse 8 says “You have not handed me over to my enemies but have set me in a safe place.” Enemies

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are not always people or organisations. A lot of the time they are situations. Some of what we believe about ourselves is an enemy to us.

“I’m useless, I can’t, I could never, I’m not good enough...” the list goes on. God says “Hey, I see what’s troubling you and causing you anguish. I won’t let that get the better of you, let me put you in a safe place.” It’s in safe places where we can redirect our thinking, restore our brokenness, get strength and start off on a strong footing again.

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Promise : God sees our troubles and cares about us.

Let’s pray together : Father, there are times I need to call on this promise. But sometimes that anguish I feel just makes me want to go into the back of my cave and wait out the storm. In those “back of the cave” times give me the strength to call out to you and hold this promise close.

Amen.

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Day 16 “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.” (2 Peter 1: 3 NLT)

I recall my Mom packing my school bag when I was in Grade 1 and as I left the house to go to school my Mom would say “You have everything you need for school, enjoy your day.” She was right. I had my pens, pencils, books and food for tea time and lunch time.

But later in that year I felt like I was experienced enough to pack my own

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school bag. My Mom let me do it, but what a disaster. I was quick to ask her if she would mind packing my bag for me again.

God has promised that each day has already given us everything we need to live a life that honours him. Why do we want to “pack our own bag” all the time. In thinking back, that school bag my Mom packed each day always had what I needed even when I had forgotten that it was swimming class that day. I’d look in my bag and lo and behold, there was a towel and my costume.

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The challenge we face is that we are so busy doing our own thing, we forget to use or appropriate what God has already given us for the day.

Promise : God has given us everything we need for a godly life.

Let’s pray together : Oh boy! Lord, I am so good at doing what I need to do each day without giving a second thought to what you have done for me already. Lord, would you help me to “look in the

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bag” during the day and draw on what you have already “packed for the day.”

Amen.

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Day 17 “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28 NLT)

Have you ever seen one of those agreements that had some fine print at the bottom and when you read the fine print it gave the agreement greater clarity.

Romans 8 is the fine print to this promise found in verse 28. The Apostle Paul contrasts a life lived

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selfishly and one lived in concert with God. When you and I live out a life in step with God, God takes the “good, bad and ugly” and weaves them together for our good and for our benefit... and His too.

We sometimes worry about what’s happening to us because we are not sure how it’s going to work out, but God does. This promise is an assurance that when we live in step with God, even those perceived mis-steps will be weaved to our, and God’s, benefit and good purpose.

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Promise : God causes all things to ultimately work for your benefit.

Let’s pray together : Heavenly Father, thank you. This promise is a comfort to me because sometimes when I think your way or living life in step with you is not working, I can be assured that you are going to ensure it all works for my good.

Amen.

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Day 18 “He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength.” (Psalm 23:2-3 NLT)

Yes please, that’s what we would like… more often than we realise. Psalm 23 is one of my favourite Psalms because it is about two very important perspectives of our belief in Jesus. Namely, we are sheep and he’s the good shepherd.

And a good shepherd knows how to take care of sheep. I once heard an

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amazing story of this concept of sheep and shepherd. A guy was on a tour bus in Israel and the guide had been explaining to them how the shepherd walked out in front of his sheep, was always calling to them and led them to green pastures and fresh water.

As the guide finished telling the story, the man looked out the window and saw someone chasing some sheep so he piped out “I thought you said the shepherd led the sheep and cared for them, why is that man chasing them.”

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“Oh” replied the guide, “That man is not a shepherd he’s the butcher.”

Jesus is the good shepherd, he is not the butcher leading you and me to the slaughter. Follow his voice and you will find peace and renewed strength.

Promise : God will lead you to peace and renew your strength.

Let’s pray together : Lord, I declare today… you are my shepherd, thank you for leading me

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to rest, peace and for renewing my strength. I pray that the reality of you being my good shepherd takes hold of my heart in those difficult times and stressful moments I experience more often than I would like.

Amen.

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Day 19 “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.” (Psalm 23:4 NLT)

Isn’t it amazing how darkness can make us feel so alone. The reason is that we don’t see so well in the dark. However if we have someone with us, the dark doesn’t seem so foreboding, does it?

The same happens in dark situations in our lives. I’m not talking about the physical absence of light, but

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situations where it feels like things are closing in on us and hope is distant. Well, it doesn’t need to be like that. God promises to be right next to us and in fact the very next verse in Psalm 23, verse 5, tells you and me that God is not just waling passively next to us but with his rod and staff, protects us and comforts us.

Are you in a dark place today, pause and stand still, God is right beside you, protecting you and comforting you. Receive that assurance right now.

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Promise : In those dark times we sometimes experience, God is with us.

Let’s pray together : Heavenly Father, as I reach out to you in my dark situation, would you grab hold of me so that I know that you’re there. Speak to me so that even if I can’t see you, I hear you and I know it’s your hand that has grabbed hold of me… that would be enough for me. Sometimes that darkness can be so overwhelming, but having you there sets my mind and my heart at ease. Thank you and bless you.

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Amen.

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Day 20 “Listen to my voice in the morning Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3 NLT)

You ever felt like God wasn’t listening to you? I think we have all been there, more times than we like to admit. The truth is that when we feel like that, our picture of God changes. Generally along the lines of “he obviously doesn’t like me” or “I must have done something really bad”. Both those statements are false and fly in the face of God’s character.

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God loving us or hearing us is not based on our behaviour, it is based on our faith in Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. Have you accepted Christ and your Lord and Saviour? If the answer is “yes” then God loves you and hears every time you call out to Him.

Freeing, isn’t it. Just that stirs me up to want to sing “Ain’t no mountain high enough” by Marvin Gaye from the Guardians of the Galaxy movie soundtrack and high-five God, but I am not sure if that’s an appropriate

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thing to do with the the creator of the universe in the room… but have you heard that soundtrack? It’s awesome. The bottom line… God is listening… just pray… and listen to that soundtrack.

Promise : God will hear you when you call out to him.

Let’s pray together : Lord, help me to settle this promise in my heart. Sometimes I don’t pray because I’m not sure if you’re hearing or want to hear… I know that’s not

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true but I still end up not praying. I feel like 1-2-3 block myself. Would you help me to make this promise a living reality to my prayer life.

Amen.

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Day 21 “You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 28:2 NLT)

Yes, I hear that question. What blessings bud? If you read verses 3-6, you will see what those blessings are. Come on buttercup, don’t wait for me to list them here, get out your Bible, turn to Deuteronomy 28 and read verses 3-6.

You done that yet?

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Now tell me this promise isn’t too cool for the pool. Of course there is that fine print that says “…if you obey the Lord your God” in verse 2. How do you do that? Work it out, you know where you’ve been disobedient to God’s voice, we don’t need a Zondo commission type thing to reveal this.

Promise : God's blessings will overwhelm those who obey him.

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Let’s pray together : Lord, I have been disobedient in so many things, please forgive me. Give me courage to take those steps of obedience and to be bold in the things you have called me to.

Amen.

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God’s Promises Listed

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Promise : If we read and ponder on God’s Word daily and apply it to our lives, we will bear fruit in every season of our lives and have no need to worry or be anxious in the tough times. “But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the river bank, bearing fruit in each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do“. (Psalm 1:2-3 NLT)

Promise : God’s faithfulness to us is not based on our faithfulness, He is faithful to us because He is a faithful God.

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“If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful. For he cannot deny who he is” (2 Timothy 2:13)

Promise : God’s Word will light up the path before us and guide us faithfully. “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105 (NLT)

Promise : Hearing God’s voice (through the scriptures) results in us living at ease and without fear. “But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm” (Proverbs 1:33 NLT)

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Promise : God’s gives us everything we need when we first seek His Kingdom and His righteousness rather than our own. “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33 NLT)

Promise : Leaning on God’s wisdom rather than our own is healthy and nourishing to our soul, spirit and body. “Do not be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing in your body and strength for your bones” (Proverbs 3:7-8 NLT)

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Promise : When we find strength in and through a relationship with God we can climb the mountains of life successfully. “God arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes me surefooted as a deer, enabling metro stand on mountain heights.” (Psalm 18:32-33 NLT)

Promise : God is working daily in our lives through the power of His Spirit to bring about His purposes for us. “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13 NLT)

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Promise : God has provided us with everything we need in order to do His will in our lives. “May he equip you with all you need for doing his will.” (Hebrews 13:21 NLT)

Promise : No promise God has made will ever fail us. “Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the Lord your God has come true. Not a single one has failed.” (Joshua 23:14 NLT)

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Promise : God gives us peace at all times in every situation when we are fixed on him. “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you.” (Isaiah 26:3 NLT)

Promise : God works on our behalf as we wait for Him. “For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him.” (Isaiah 64:4 NLT)

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Promise : God will teach us which is the best way for us to go. “The Lord says, I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8 NLT)

Promise : When we commit all that we do to God, we will succeed. “Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3 NLT)

Promise : God sees our troubles and cares about us.

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“You have seen my troubles and you care about the anguish of my soul.” (Psalm 31:7 NLT)

Promise : God has given us everything we need for a godly life. “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.” (2 Peter 1: 3 NLT)

Promise : God causes all things to ultimately work for your benefit.

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“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28 NLT)

Prayer : God will lead you to peace and renew your strength. “He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength.” (Psalm 23:2-3 NLT)

Promise : In those dark times we sometimes experience, God is with us.

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“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.” (Psalm 23:4 NLT)

Promise : God will hear you when you call out to him. “Listen to my voice in the morning Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3 NLT)

Promise : God's blessings will overwhelm those who obey him.

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“You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 28:2 NLT)