Romans 4:16-25
16Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
18Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
20He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
TODAY'S PROMISE
Your faith is the key to the door of unending promises!
WORDS TO LIVE BY
My inheritance of God's promise is the outcome of my faith. By believing in the promise and speaking of it as if it were mine, God has an avenue to give it to me as an act of unmerited, undeserved favor. This overcomes the obstacles that imprison God's generous heart and is the certainty that guarantees that I will receive His promises in my life.
I walk in the faith of Abraham. Abraham understood the faith of God, in whom he believed...the very One who brings life out of death by calling those things that are not as though they are. When God declared, "I have made you a father of many nations," Abraham's hope was not shaken. He did not say, "No way, God, I don't have even one child-much less many." To the contrary, he did not weaken in faith by looking at the limitations of his body (which was as good as dead where reproduction was concerned), but against all hope and circumstance, he had the assurance of his faith, believing in the promise and speaking of it as if it were already fulfilled.
When God said, "Look to the stars, Abraham. So shall your descendents be," He gave Abraham a vision of his destiny. Abraham, with his finger pointing to the heavens, declared in euphoric harmony with God, "So shall my descendants be!" Like God, regardless of his natural circumstances, he called those things that were not as though they were.
This is the example set before me. I believe and declare God's Word to be true in my life. Therefore, in faith, I call those things that are not (in my preesent condition and circumstance) as if I already have them. I will allow NO UNBELIEF or mistrust to make me waiver, but I will grow strong, empowered by faith, giving praise and glory to God.
I believe that God is trustworthy - He is who He says He is, and I am fully convinced He is able to keep His Word and do what He says He can do!
I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. This righteousness is granted to me because I believe in and put my total dependence upon God, who raised Jesus, my Lord, from the dead. That same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in me today -- it's not just visiting -- it LIVES in me!
Life's Little Nuggets
Funny thing about humility...just when you think you've got it, you've lost it. ~unknown
