Psalms 2:4-7

He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure:
“Yet I have set My King
On My holy hill of Zion.”
 “I will declare the decree:
The Lord has said to Me,
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.

Declare the Promises of God

In Psalms 2:7, the psalmist wrote that he would “declare the decree of the Lord.”  “The written Word of God” is the formal decree of the Lord, our King.  When we declare God’s Word out of our mouths, with hearts full of faith, those faith-filled words go forth to establish God’s order in our lives.  When the royal decree is pronounced, things begin to change!   (Joyce Meyer/The Everyday Life Bible)

Corinne told be about a time when she was a child and in the hospital. Her mother had stayed by her side most of the time; however, the night before Corinne’s surgery her mom went home for some much needed rest.  She assured Corinne she would be back in the morning before her surgery.

Corinne awoke the next morning and nurses began their preparations for the coming surgery.  Corinne looked for her mom but she was not there.  Where was her mom?  She didn’t know.  She only knew she was alone, afraid, and concerned about the coming operation.

They helped her upon the stretcher.  Still she didn’t see her mom. Where was she?   The nurses pushed her toward the elevator doors and Corinne closed her eyes against the tears that threatened to spill over.  In that moment, “someone” inside, whispered to her, “…cast your care on Him, for He cares for you.”  She had never heard these words before but somehow they brought peace to her frightened heart.

Still by the elevator, Corinne opened her eyes and saw her mom’s smiling face.  The doors opened, but before the stretcher moved, her mom was able to give her a hug and kiss.

I honestly believe it was the Holy Spirit, who whispered the words of God, from I Peter 5:7, to Corinne.  Words, from God, increase our faith, gives us strength, and fills us with peace.  Even when our world is turned upside down, we can still have the peace of God in our hearts.  The Bible is filled with promises just waiting to be claimed.

One of my favorite promises, given of Jesus, and found in John 6:37 says,  “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.”  For years I struggled with low self-esteem.  I was tormented with the idea, I was so repulsive and so stupid, I would somehow manage to screw up God’s perfect love. However John 6:37 tells me that all I have to do is to come to him.  I don’t have to change, I just need to come to him as “me” and then He promises to take me and never, for any reason, cast me away.

God has promises waiting for you.  Go, claim them and see how He will work in your life.

“…casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”  I Peter 5:7

My Prayer:  Lord, thank you for loving me.  You love the lazy me, the ugly me, the me that always seems to make mistakes.  Just as the father, in the parable of the prodigal son, your arms are always open and ready to welcome me into your embrace.  Thank you for your promises, lead me to them, so I can claim them, and make them my very own.   It’s through the name of Jesus I ask these things…Amen.