“But People of the Promise have an advantage. They determine to ponder, proclaim, and pray the promises of God. . . . They filter life through the promises of God.”- Max Lucado
“[Abraham] didn’t tiptoe around God’s promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said.”- Romans 4:20-21 (The Message)
Max Lucado concludes Chapter 1 of Unshakable Hope as he notes that we live in a time of despair. Despite the increase in education, technology tools, and entertainment and recreation. Yet, America’s suicide rate jumped 24 percent since 1999. So, Pastor Lucado asks, how is this possible?
Hence, Max offers one possible answer – people are dying from lack of hope. As a result, in our culture, secularism:
- sucks the hope out of society.
- reduces the world to a few decades between birth and hearse.
Above all, the author states, God’s given you a promise for every problem in your life. Thus, you must make it your goal to get acquainted with these promises. Then, you can write yourself a prescription. Consequently, after forty years of ministry, Max understands that only God’s promises lift the weary soul. And we desperately need them.
“We do not need more opinions or hunches; we need the definitive declarations of our mighty and loving God. He governs the world according to these great and precious promises. The circumstances of life or the promises of God — upon which are you standing?”
In conclusion, Max observes that God’s great and precious promises:
- lead us into a new reality, a holy environment.
- are direction signs that guide us away from toxic swampland into the clean air of heaven.
- sit like golden stones in the pathway to God’s world.
- function as strong boulders that form a bridge leading us from our sin to salvation.
Today’s question: What Bible verses infuse your passion to ponder, proclaim, and pray God’s promises? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: the annotated bibliography of Boundaries for Your Soul
