God is always there for us (Devotionals)

78. God's promises

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 1:20 

May nangako na ba sa 'yo na hindi natupad? Maraming beses na ba iyon nangyari? May mga pangakong napapako dahil na rin mismo sa kakulangan natin bilang isang tao lamang. Ika nga, huwag kang mangangako kapag sobrang masaya at huwag mag-de-decide kapag naghahari ang matinding emosyon dahil nakatitiyak na sa bandang huli ay pagsisisihan natin iyon at regarding sa pangako, malaki ang chance na hindi iyon natupad. Baka ganoon ang nangyari kaya maraming pangakong napako na lang. Kaya bago tayo mangako, siguraduhin na kaya natin iyon tuparin para hindi na mapabilang pa sa mga pangakong napako. 

May trust issues ka na ba sa mga pangako? Kung meron man, huwag lang sa Lord. Sinasabi ko sa iyo, kahit hindi mabilang kung gaano karami ang promises Niya sa Bible, lahat ng iyon ay natupad. God is glorified on that. Nakikita naman natin sa Bible lahat ng pangako Niya na natupad sa mga servant Niya. Hindi man nila nakuha agad or it takes time, pero natupad. We just really need to have faith. That faith is pleases God.

Minsan kaya nag-aalinlangan tayo sa mga pangako dahil na rin sa kakulangan ng assurance at pagtitiwala. May pagkakataon talaga na hindi iyon maiwasan subalit ma-o-overcome rin natin iyan. May process man na pagdadaanan pero worth it.

What are the assurance that all of His promises are "yes"?

* All of He has done (specially in Bible times and to your life)

* He never changes (He is the same yesterday, today, and forever)

* He is faithful (even we are not faithful anymore, He will remain faithful)

* He will not run from His Words (100% He will fulfill)

We have assurance in His Words. He will not run away on what He has said. He will not turn away on what He has promise. Even though how great in number are His promises, He will fulfill it because of who He is, He is faithful. We shall do is to have faith. 

Try to read the whole chapter of Hebrews 11. You'll be amazed kung ano'ng ginawa sa buhay nila ang faith sa Lord.

Why there are times we doubt His promises?

* The lies of enemy
* Our negative thoughts or negative feelings
* Fear reigns in us
* Lack of faith 

Araw-araw tayong nasa laban, at piliin nating manatili sa Kanya at patuloy na panghawakan ang Kanyang mga pangako. Piliin natin makinig sa sinasabi ng mga Salita Niya kaysa mga sinasabi ng kaaway, sa negative thoughts, o sa fears natin. Lakasan natin ang volume ng Word of God at patahimikin ang sinasabi ng kaaway.

How to hold His promises?

* Being confident about His promises

The Christian's confidence is in Christ and God's Words.

* Having faith

Having faith is being confident in what we do not see yet.

* Believe it without doubts or second thoughts

Hindi man gano'n kadali, pero with His strength, mawawala ang doubts or other things na nagiging dahilan ng unbelief.

* In prayer

Lahat ng battles mo, i-pray mo! He is listening. If na-fe-feel na doubts ang naghahari, pray in order to be aligned at His will, it gives you strength, and it encourages you to hold His Words.

The battle is not easy to win, but I believe in you; you are an overcomer with Christ. Inggit lang ang kaaway sa 'yo kaya binibigyan ka niya ng doubts or other thoughts about His promises. Anuman ang mangyari, no one can change His mind. Parang alon sa dagat o ang malakas na hangin. Kapag pinangako Niya, no matter what will happen, we always have the assurance na iyon ay matutupad. Faith lamang sa Kanya ang kailangan.

How to refrain from doubts?

* Submitting to God

Nothing is impossible with God. We can refrain from doubts by surrendering that to Him.

Anxious feelings, fears, and doubts are there, but God is always there, too. Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4) He cares for you. It is so tiring to live in doubts. Cast it to Him.

* Have faith

This is the most common shortest sentence we hear from Christians. This is absolutely true. This is so essential in our Christian life. Replace doubts with faith.

Doubts and fears may attack, but God has given us way to fight those, it is having faith in Him. 

* Focusing in Him

There would be times that we feel our faith is shaken or weaken, negative emotions reign in us, but always remember to focus in God.

* Resist the devil

Resist him! Do not listen on what he says. Patuloy mo lang panghawakan ang mga pangako ng Diyos. May katiyakan sa Diyos!

* Don't let negativity reign 

Our negative emotions are temporary, but our faith in God will lead us to permanent joy and fulfillment of His promises. 

What are the reasons of unbelief? 

Nakaaasar ang mga pinanggagalingan ng ating unbelief, e. Minsan kahit alam naman natin na kapag ang Diyos ay nangako, tiyak ang katuparan no'n subalit may pagkakataon talaga na ku-question-in natin ang mga pangako na iyon, kung matutupad pa ba... Alalahanin lamang natin na He is faithful kahit hindi na tayo faithful.

* Our thoughts (like doubts and fears)

We read how many times in the Bible, "Do not fear." at 'yong about sa mga pag-aalinlangan ng ibang tao (iyon ay nag-result ng lack of faith). 

Hindi man madali, pero replace our thoughts with His Words. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)

* Not knowing God well

Kapag hindi pa natin gaano kilala ang isang tao, hindi ba, 'di tayo nagtitiwala agad? Parang ganoon din iyon when it comes to our faith in Him. You'll know Him more by reading the Bible. When you know Him, you'll trust Him more.

* Not confident in faith

Ito 'yong problema ko madalas, I do not have that confidence... Pero alalahanin natin, God is a promise keeper kaya may confidence tayo na matutupad kahit gaano man kalabo sa paningin natin ang Kanyang pangako. 

God is able, always able, even if we can do nothing, even if we loose hope, even if we fail many times in the past, there's always hope in Him; He is able and all powerful. He is omnipotent. He is our Almighty God. Tiyak na nabasa natin sa Bible kung gaano Siya makapangyarihan o nahayag ang glory Niya.

Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. (Romans 4:20‭-‬21) 

He has overcome anything. We just need to strengthen our faith. Strengthening our faith will glorify God. We are in battles everyday, but be still, remember He is God, and looking to Him is the best thing to do. He has always power to do what He has promised. He is omnipotent.

Why we shall strengthen our faith?

* To stand firm
* To fulfill God's will 
* God's promises to be done 
* To continue the race 
* To focus in Him

God's promises are accurate than anything else. There is always 100% assurance that His promises to be fulfilled. 

Kapatid, alam kong hindi ganoon kadali ang mga kinahaharap natin sa buhay; kasama na ro'n ang pag-doubt sa promises Niya if matutupad pa ba iyon dahil parang ang tagal. He knows the right time. Tandaan mo lang palagi, tapat ang Diyos sa lahat ng oras. 

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