Rainbows and Promises

In the past week I have witnessed more than six rainbows in a variety of places from the Florida Keys to the Mountains of North Carolina. And it got me thinking about God’s promises . . .

What is a promise? My five year old, will make me ‘pinky promise’ and she knows then what I say is true. Wikipedia defines it as “A promise is a commitment by someone to do or not do something.” But as human beings often times our promises are broken, which is somewhat understandable as we do have control over things, such as the weather (and simply cannot count on the weather man being 100% accurate).

But God’s promises cannot and will not be broken because he is God! The everlasting and almighty. He can control even the weather – remember when Jesus calmed the storm by simply saying “be still”?

I did a google search on the promises of God and found a page that listed 10 scriptures about God’s promises. The first verse listed is 2 Peter 1:4. (I prefer the KJV below):

¹Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

 ²Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

 ³According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

 ⁴Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Notice the words ‘exceeding great’ and ‘precious promises’. And secondly look at what these promises relate to: we get to be “partakers of the divine nature” and have “escaped the corruption this is in the world”.

No, God’s promises are not to be confused with our imperfect and sometimes menial promises of ice cream or a day at the park. God has put great thought into his promises and when he says he will do something consider it DONE.

I have more to ponder on this subject and will add more as we go along, but I want to leave you with this thought: Why do we stress out about the things of this world, when God already has our place ready for us in heaven? He has overcome the world, shouldn’t we strive to do the same and to truly trust Him?  

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  2 Corinthians 5:17

Yesterday, I watched “Tangled”; Disney’s latest version of “Rapunzel”, which by the way was one of my favorite books growing up.  I found myself jealous of the character who was able to express such joy and dance in the streets without fear of what someone might think. It was if she was experiencing life for the first time – wait, she WAS! (Just in case you don’t remember, she was locked up in a tower for most of her childhood life by an evil witch.)

Which lead me to thinking, Christ has given me new life – why is it then that I do not go about dancing and spreading sunshine everywhere? I once was locked in my own tower and He set me free. I danced for a while, but then began to take it for granted, began to take Him for granted. . .

How do I take someone who laid down His life for mine for granted?

How do I not spend every hour of every day consumed with thanksgiving?

Knowing it was He who has set me free.

I am thankful for God’s little reminders. For I need them daily, so that my life can be put into perspective. So that I will not be swayed by the things of this world, but know that God overcomes ALL and He has made me a NEW creature . . . and ALL things are NEW!

My goal is to wake up each day thankful and live like it truly is a blessing – given by Christ. AMEN.