Leaning into God's Promises

Published on August 10, 2023

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This article appears in the Spring 2023 issue of the FCA Donor Publication. The FCA publication is a gift from our FCA staff to all donors giving $50 or more annually. For more information about giving, visit here.

Somewhere early in my child-rearing years, my only daughter, Carrie, swears I promised to take her to Salzburg, Austria. She is a huge fan of the movie The Sound of Music, and she wanted to see where the von Trapp family lived. Over the years, I managed to take Carrie with me on business trips to Australia, Singapore, England, France, Germany, New Zealand, Israel, Norway and Malaysia. One would think she would have been satisfied! But, alas, she was not. Finally, as a young adult, she learned I was traveling to Switzerland. That was close enough, she reasoned. We could drive to Austria from there. We ultimately decided to bring Carrie’s boyfriend, Sam, so he could chauffer us across Europe, as I was feeling a bit old to be navigating the autobahn. While in the Swiss Alps, Sam took it upon himself to propose to Carrie on the same mountain 007 had fought off evil villains in a James Bond movie. It was a breathtaking venue for a life-changing moment. Carrie held fast to a promise, and it led to a monumental experience.

If clinging to a forgetful father’s promise is laden with such potential, imagine the possibilities associated with claiming a promise of God. One divine promise has unlimited potential. The apostle Peter claimed,"Wise leaders comb the Bible for promises pertaining to them and their organization. Every divine promise is an invitation for you to believe God and adjust yourself to his ways."
-Dr. Richard Blackaby “His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire” (2 Peter 1:3-4).

Imagine: Every promise of God has enormous possibilities for your life and leadership. Jesus committed never to leave or forsake you (Heb. 13:5). He said that if you called out to him, he would show you great and mighty things you do not know (Jer. 33:3). The Bible is brimming with divine promises, and God stands ready to fulfill each one to the letter.

How should this knowledge affect the way you lead? Wise leaders comb the Bible for promises pertaining to them and their organization. Every divine promise is an invitation for you to believe God and adjust yourself to his ways. When you base your actions on God’s promises, you can have absolute confidence that God will behave just as he said. In an age of broken commitments, exaggerations and brazen lies, we need something solid on which to base our efforts and organizations. Bankers can break their promises. Politicians do so unabashedly. Even trusted friends may let you down. But heaven and earth would cease to exist before God would fail to keep his promise to you.

How tragic to leave a divine promise on the table because you did not know or believe it. Trust in God, not people. Keep God’s promises before you. Watch expectantly for their fulfilment. Lead with boldness, knowing your success depends not on your promises or other people’s promises but on God’s.

Prayer: Father, reveal your promises to me through your Word and help me trust in your promises over people. Amen.

Bio: Dr. Richard Blackaby is the oldest son of Henry and Marilyn Blackaby. He is the president of Blackaby Ministries International (www.blackaby.org). Richard has authored or co-authored 40 books, including: Experiencing God, The Ways of God, and Spiritual Leadership. Richard and his wife, Lisa, live in Atlanta. They have three children, all serving in ministry, and eight grandchildren. Richard is an international speaker helping people lead God’s way in their homes, businesses, and churches. You can follow him at richardblackaby.com and The Richard Blackaby Leadership Podcast.

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