I Promise!

Daily Reading: 2 Peter 1

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (2 Peter 1.3-4)

Devotional Thought: "I promise it's the honest truth!  Cross my heart and hope to die!"  Did you ever seal a childhood statement with something like that?  Of course.  Making promises - large and small - is part and parcel of life.

When a promise is made, we expect that a person is be­ing honest and truthful with us.  For instance, in the promises made at a marriage altar, we expect that what that person was saying they really meant. They were being honest and truthful with us. We are staking our lives on that. Or, if you make a promise to your child that you are going to take him or her out for an ice-cream cone, that child will be counting on that happening. If you don't, you will be reminded several times. A child's hope and expectation are founded on the one making the promise.  Since God is our "promiser," we can depend on him.

2 Peter 1.3 captures our attention: "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness."  All things! But we must remember that needs and wants are two different things.  Sometimes what we want isn't what we really need.  Sadly, though, too many of us never let God's power be un­leashed even in our needs. We live in our own strength only, dealing with issues in our own energy and wisdom. But God has promised di­vine power!

Steve Sears

Prayer: I praise you, O Lord, for your promise of divine power and for giving me all things that pertain to life and godliness.  I believe your promise and receive your gifts.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 64.1-10

1 Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy.

2 Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers,

3 who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows,

4 shooting from ambush at the blameless, shooting at him suddenly and without fear.

5 They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, “Who can see them? ”

6 They search out injustice, saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search. ”For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep.

7 But God shoots his arrow at them; they are wounded suddenly.

8 They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them; all who see them will wag their heads.

9 Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done.

10 Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!