Faithful Promises

Date: May 30, 2024

I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional.

B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Voice and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases
S - Summarize and Share

You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?

B - Bible Verse in NIV (Hebrews 11:11) And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.

L - Listen for God's Voice and pray Dear Heavenly Father, we come before You today with hearts full of gratitude for Your faithfulness. We thank You that even when our circumstances seem impossible, You are able to do far more than we could ever ask or imagine. Help us to have faith like Sarah, trusting in Your promises and believing that You will fulfill Your purposes in our lives. Give us the strength to walk in obedience and the courage to trust You, even when the path ahead is uncertain. May our lives be a testimony to Your goodness and faithfulness. In Jesus' name, Amen.

E - Explore the History and meaning Hebrews 11 is known as the "Hall of Faith," because it highlights examples of Old Testament figures who demonstrated remarkable faith in God. In verse 11, the author focuses on Sarah, the wife of Abraham. Despite being well past childbearing age, Sarah ultimately believed God's promise that she would have a son, and she gave birth to Isaac. This miraculous birth was a fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham and a key moment in the history of God's people.

S - Study the Key Words or Phrases

"By faith" - Sarah's trust in God was the foundation for her actions and her ability to conceive.

"Past childbearing age" - Sarah's physical limitations made her pregnancy seem impossible by human standards.

"Considered him faithful" - Sarah's faith was rooted in her belief in God's trustworthiness and His ability to keep His promises.

S - Summarize and Share

Have you ever faced a situation that seemed impossible? Maybe it was a dream that felt out of reach, a problem that seemed insurmountable, or a promise that appeared unfulfilled. In those moments, it's easy to lose hope and wonder if God is really working behind the scenes.

But the story of Sarah in Hebrews 11:11 reminds us that with God, nothing is impossible. Sarah was a woman who had every reason to doubt God's promise. She was well past the age of being able to have a child, and her husband Abraham was no spring chicken either. In fact, when God first promised them a son, Sarah actually laughed in disbelief.

But somewhere along the way, Sarah's doubt turned to faith. The Bible tells us that she "considered him faithful who had made the promise." In other words, Sarah chose to believe that God was trustworthy and that He would keep His word, even when the odds seemed stacked against her.

And that's exactly what God did. In His perfect timing, Sarah gave birth to a son, Isaac, just as God had promised. It was a miracle that defied human understanding and showcased the incredible power of faith.

So what can we learn from Sarah's story? First, we can be encouraged that God is faithful, even when our circumstances seem hopeless. He is not limited by our age, our abilities, or our past failures. When He makes a promise, He will see it through.

Second, we can choose to cultivate a heart of faith, just like Sarah did. That doesn't mean we'll never have doubts or questions. But it does mean that we can choose to trust God, even when the path ahead is uncertain. We can remind ourselves of His faithfulness in the past and believe that He will continue to be faithful in the future.

Finally, we can remember that God's timing is perfect. Sarah waited many long years for the fulfillment of God's promise. But in the end, His plan was better than anything she could have imagined. The same is true for us. God's timing may not always make sense to us, but we can trust that He is working all things together for our good and His glory.

So today, if you're facing an impossible situation, take heart. Remember the faith of Sarah, and choose to trust in the faithfulness of our amazing God. He is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine. All He asks is that we believe.

3 Bible Cross References:

Luke 1:37 - "For no word from God will ever fail."

Romans 4:19-21 - "Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised."

Jeremiah 32:17 - "Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you."