GOD’S PROMISES IN ADVENT

Rev. Linh N. Nguyen

Advent is the season of waiting and anticipation before Christmas. We celebrate that our Messiah has come, and we look with longing to the day when he comes again. One of the hardest things for us to do is wait on God. Sometimes God’s promises don’t turn up as soon as we would like, and we wonder if God has forgotten us.

What God has promised he is able to perform. Think of the many wonderful promises he has made. How do we know he is able to do what he has promised? Because he is the Almighty God. As we wait for the fruition of God’s promises, we can find confidence in knowing God is not only in charge of the event, but he is in charge of the timing. What energizes us as we wait for him is this thought: God has never promised anything to any of us that he is not able to do; and he is faithful to do what he has promised.

A promise from God is a statement we can depend on with absolute confidence. If we are consumed with a passion to find God’s will through his Word and his Holy Spirit, we can always be in the place where God can shower down his power upon us.

Here are twelve promises found in the Scriptures for the Christian to claim.

1.      God’s presence – “I will never forsake you or abandon you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

2.      God’s protection – “I am your shield.” (Genesis 15:1)

3.      God’s power – “I will strengthen you.” (Isaiah 41:10)

4.      God’s provision – “I will help you and uphold you.” (Isaiah 41:10)

5.      God’s leading – When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them. (John 10:4)

6.      God’s purposes – “I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

7.      God’s rest – “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

8.      God’s cleansing – If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. (1 John 1:9)

9.      God’s goodness – The Lord withholds no good thing from those who walk without reproach. (Psalms 84:11)

10. God’s faithfulness – For the sake of his own great name the Lord will not abandon his people. (1 Samuel 12:22)

11. God’s guidance – Guides the humble rightly, and teaches the humble the way. (Psalms 25:9)

12. God’s wise plan – All things work for good for those who love God. (Romans 8:28)