Promises

I've been realizing something as of late in regards to words and mine never fully being able to praise God in the way He deserves. Last night in my Bible Study we talked about the Bible being the promises of God. As I read the Bible in this way last night, a new vitality was brought to my thirst for His word and what He speaks through it. Though I know God has given me a gift with words, I am so thankful that I can turn to His word and know it gives such an accurate representation of Him. I'm struck by the beauty of the Psalmnists, the words of wisdom from the prophets, the amazing testimonies by historians, and the encouragement and commands of Paul, John, and others. More and more my eyes are being open to His incredible promises, and it leaves me with a thirst like no other.

"Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 'I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you--the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you--every living creature on earth. I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood, never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.' And God said, 'This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life" (Genesis 9:8-15).

"Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us nor forsake us. May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep the commands, decrees, and regulations he gave our fathers. And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his people Israel according to each day's need, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other. But your hearts myst be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time" (1 Kings 8:56-61).

"Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: my purpose will stand, and I will do all I please. From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far off land, a man to fufill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do" (Isaiah 46:8-11).