What's in a Promise?

Recently I decided to research the definition of the word, "promise." Not having a dictionary handy, I used the internet for a definition of the word, which came up with several meanings:

1) vow: to assure somebody that something will certainly happen or be done;
2) pledge something: to spledge to somebody to provide or do something;
3) make somebody expect something: to cause somebody to expect something;
4) a assure or warn somebody: to assure or warn somebody that something is true or inevitable.

I want to examine the first meaning: vow: to assure somebody that something will certainly happen or be done.

Two of my closest friends in Tuskegee, Alabama gave me a scripture for my birthday that I hold close and dear to my heart, and it comes from the book of Isaiah 40:31. It states: "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles."

The book of Isaish is the first of the writings of the Prophets in the Bible, and Isaiah, the author, is generally considered to be the greatest prophet. The prophet's role was to speak for God, confronting the people and their leaders with God's commands and promises.

This promise has prolific consequences. Hoping in the Lord is expecting that God's promise of strength will help them to rise above life's distractions and difficulties. It also means trusting in God. Trusting helps us to be prepared when he speaks to us. Then we will be patient when he asks us to wait and expect him to fulfill the promises found in his Word.

The eagle is often mentioned throughout the Bible. The eagle has great significance as well as it being considered a magnificient bird. Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks?

The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. The eagle does not escape the storm, it simply uses the storm to lift it higher.

When the storms of life come upon us...and all of us will experience them...we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward God.

God always keeps his promises. He is not like man, who will promise, and then break his promise. God never takes back or changes His promises. In Psalm 89:34, he says, "No, I will not break my covenant; I will not take back one word of what I said."

None of God's promises ever fail. If God promises, it will come to pass because only God can do the impossible. In Luke 18:27, Jesus said, "what is impossible with men is possible with God."

Thought for this message: The storms do not have to overcome us, we can allow God's power to lift us above them. We can wait upon the Lord and renew our strength because God is with us, and he will not let his Word fail.