Tag: promise

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Sure Thing

Daily Reading

Joshua 19-21

Daily Thought

Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass. ~Joshua 21:45

I looked up some streaks. Joe DiMaggio hit safely in 56 straight baseball games. He was a good bet for a hit, but not in game 57. UCLA won every basketball game from January 30, 1971, to January 17, 1974. Eighty-eight straight. But on January 19, 1974, they lost. Ted St. Martin sunk 5,221 consecutive free throws. You could bet he’d make the next one. But then he missed.

We have some good streaks, but even the best eventually fall. God keeps all of his promises. Every single one  …and counting. “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:12-13).

It’s a sure thing, and you can bet your life on a sure thing.

Daily Prayer

Our Father, God, Thank You for Your promises. Thank You for telling us what You are going to do, then doing it. Thank You that we can fully trust in You. May I walk forward in faith, always trusting, always true.

God, you are the beginning and the end, the first and the last. In You there is no change, no uncertainty. You are the Creator and Sustainer of all things. We read Your Word and we know what eternity holds in front of us. What a great God You are!

Amen

Daily Question

Which of God’s promises do you count on the most?

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Even When It Hurts

Daily Reading

Proverbs 10-12

Daily Thought

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. ~Proverbs 10:9

The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. ~Proverbs 11:3

Proverbs are truths in a general sort of way; they do not work every time–sometimes the crooked get away with the goods. But, in general, proverbs describe life.

I am a John Wooden fan, and he is a man who walked in integrity. John Wooden was born in the Midwest, liked the Midwest, and wanted to stay forever in the Midwest. And he would if the University of Minnesota called him before the deadline, but they did not. So, in 1948, John Wooden agreed to go west to Westwood, leaving his beloved Midwest to coach the UCLA Bruins, a team that had three winning seasons in the previous 17 years and finished last last season.

Then Minnesota called, something about a snowstorm knocking out communication. They had tried to call before the deadline. It was a good honest excuse–it snows a lot in the Midwest. The job is yours, they said. Can you come? But John Wooden had given his word to UCLA.

O Lord, who shall may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?
He who keeps his oath
even when it hurts. ~Psalm 15:1, 4

John Wooden would never return to the Midwest. He stayed at UCLA, and for the next 27 years, UCLA did not have a losing season. The final twelve seasons under Wooden, UCLA collected 10 NCAA Championships. How? Coaching, discipline, determination, talent. But it began with integrity. A man kept his word.

Daily Prayer

Creator, by Your Word all things came into existence. You speak and it happens. Your Son is Your Word to this world. When we see “The Word,” Jesus, we see You because You are One: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

God, may my word be as true. May I speak without duplicity. May I always keep my word. You said I must walk in Your Word. Your Word is truth. If I am to be like You, God, then my word must be truth, as well.

Amen

Daily Question

When is it okay to break a commitment or promise to someone?