Gifts of Lent: Remember God’s promises are for YOU, too!

I love to encourage people with promises from God’s Word. I’m encouraged by others telling me that God spoke to them through something I wrote or said. I know that God’s ancient promises to His people are just as much for us today. Because His character never changes and His love and faithfulness are never-ending, modern man can be assured and comforted and guided by words written about Him and from Him millennia ago. I believe this.

Most of the time, however, when I hear a word from God, I immediately think of who else needs to know it, who I should pass it on to. A struggling or hurting friend, someone in a health crisis? It sounds selfless, but can cause me to miss out on God’s blessing and even be sneakily judgmental.

The most graphic example is when I’ve listened to a message, hoping the person next to me is listening. Not only is that wrong, but more subtly, I can miss out on the comfort and guidance that God intends for me to receive   because my eyes are on others.

The Truth is, God’s Truth is for me as much as for you. His promises are all available and effective for my heartache, my pain points, my ongoing trials.

God loves me and wants me to know that: He is near to my broken heart;  the work that He’s begun in me and those I love, He will complete; there is nothing in all the world that can separate me from His love; He will provide everything I need to get through this day, year, life; He is and will be with me, always.

This Lenten season I want to remember that God’s promises are for me, today. He gives me opportunities to share His love, but wants me to keep some for myself. Anyone else need that reminder? If so, here’s some of my favorite promises that I’m standing on:

Psalm 34:18; Philippians 1:6 and 4:19;

Romans 8:38-39; Matthew 28:20