He promised

²⁰ For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are [all answered] “Yes.” So through Him we say our “Amen” to the glory of God.

The promises of God are certain, even when we are uncertain.

PSALM: Just as I am 1835
Charlotte Eliott (1789-1871)

Just as I am Thou wilt receive
Wilt welcome pardon cleanse relieve
Because Thy Promise I believe
O Lamb of God I come I come

Like Charlotte, I believe that Jesus promises that just as I am, he will receive, welcome, pardon, cleanse, and relieve me.

PARABLE:  Sitting on my porch steps until dark waiting for my father to pick me up for a visit as he promised. Tears of disappointment burned my cheek for the last time. Excuses would no longer be accepted. I vowed not to believe in promises.

I didn’t realize that this vow would impact my ability to trust others for years to come. In fact, it would impact my trust in God. The incident would cause the chronic questions of “Where are you? Do I matter? Will you REALLY come through for me?” to play like a broken record in my mind whenever life happens.

I confess that circumstances and challenges have a way of rewinding the broken record and bringing me back to the question of who God is in my life. It produces the spiritual delusion that God will not keep His promise. Even though I know it is a LIE playing on the reel of deception that seeks to kill, steal, and destroy my intimacy with God, sometimes the tune still plays and I harmonize with the lie. 

When it does, I have to erase the tune by taking those thoughts into captivity. I have to stand on the truth that Jesus, the Lamb of God, made the promise with His sacrificial life that assures me that even in my doubt, He will receive, welcome, pardon, cleanse, and relieve me of my fears, JUST AS I am.  

No need to do anything FIRST. Right in my deepest moment of doubt, I can come to Jesus. This is a promise I can trust.

Soul care training exercise:  The songwriter uses many words to describe the dependability of Jesus. Take a moment and slowly read the words: receive, welcome, pardon, cleanse, and relieve.  Ponder the question In this moment, what truth do I most need to know about Jesus’ promises? Reflect and let the Holy Spirit reveal to you whether you need to be received, welcomed, pardoned, cleansed, or relieved.

Notice without judgment and with a curious awareness of what comes to your mind. Invite God into your sanctified imagination. Ask Him to bring to your attention what He wants you to know.

• Next scan your mind and notice what the Holy Spirit is sharing that you need to know, hear, or do as you come to Jesus just as you are in this moment. Expand your thoughts, it may be something you never heard told this way before.
• Finally, Focus on what you see and hear. With a breath of assurance, breathe in and breathe out and accept what Jesus is offering to you.

PRAYER: Jesus, I come just as I am knowing you are waiting with welcoming arms to receive me. Pardon me for my sins and thoughts of doubt. Cleanse me from my mistrust and deceptive thoughts. Relieve me of my anxiousness and worry.  I believe in your promise.  Even in moments when my mind doubts, my heart reassures me that I can come, Just as I am.  In the loving name of Jesus I pray, Amen. 

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to thank Jesus that no matter what, you can come Just as you are. Then take the mindfulness of Jesus’ Presence in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

The post He promised appeared first on Resonant 7.

Take five minutes Bonus Guided Meditation He Promised.

Image attributions:  Text art app with words added