John 17 contains Jesus’ prayer to His Father. It is an intimate prayer. It is a prayer that can help us understand the heart of our Lord and Savior for us. 

In verses 1-5, Jesus prays for His glorification that would honor His Father.

In verses 6-19, Jesus prays for His disciples He was leaving behind when He would return to the Father.

In verses 20-26, Jesus prays for all of His future followers, including us today. The prayers in verses 6-19 are also applicable to all of Jesus’ followers.

John 17:1-5:

 “After Jesus said this, He looked toward heaven [Jesus looked to the place of the One He spoke to.]  and prayed [Jesus, God in the flesh, models honoring His Father, Our Father, by praying respectfully.]: 

“Father, the hour has come [Jesus was in sync with God’s timing.]. 

Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you [His motive was not for selfish exaltation, but for His Father’s glory.]. 

For you granted Him authority over all people that He might give eternal life to all those you have given Him. [Jesus utilized His God-given authority for the benefit of believers.] 

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. [Jesus brought several truths into this prayer. Eternal life is the truth that conveys that people can live with God forever. People who fail to believe this truth will one day understand it when they live in eternal separation from God. Another truth is the fact that only those who know Jesus will have eternal life. Another truth we learn is that Jesus was sent by the Father, revealing His love for us through the provision of Jesus as the sacrifice for our sins.]

I have brought You glory on earth by finishing the work You gave me to do. [Jesus perfectly obeyed His Father.]

 And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began.”[Jesus knew that after He would complete His work on the cross, experiencing excruciating separation from His Father, that His Father would raise Him from death. We should be motivated to obey Jesus through our times of suffering, knowing that He has gone to prepare a place for us – see John 14.]

Jesus continued His prayer, but the subject of this prayer is for the benefit of all His immediate disciples, but is applicable to all His followers (see John 17:20-26).

John 17:6-12:

“I have revealed You to those whom You gave me out of the world. [Jesus faithfully told His disciples about the Father, but He also revealed Him to them by His obedience to His Father.] 

They were Yours; You gave them to Me and they have obeyed Your word. [True followers of Jesus obey His Word. When we fail, we confess our sin, and God cleanses us and restores our fellowship with Him.] 

Now they know that everything You have given Me comes from you. [The disciples finally understood what Jesus was telling them. Today, He helps us understand, through the work of His Holy Spirit.]

For I gave them the words You gave Me and they accepted them. [Do we accept the Word of God in its entirety? Do we then honor God by obeying, even when we might not like what we are being told to do because it is contrary to what our flesh desires?]

They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent me. [It is important that we believe the Father sent Jesus.]

I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given Me, for they are Yours. [Jesus was praying for those people who have a personal relationship with God. Praise Him for His prayers on our behalf!]

All I have is Yours, and all You have is mine. And glory has come to Me through them. [Jesus reveals there are no territorial barriers between He and the Father. There should not be any between God’s people either.]

I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to You. [Jesus knew God’s plan, and prepared for it through prayer.]

Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your name, the name You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one. [Jesus knew the battlefield His followers would live in, so He asked His father to protect us! Unity is of vital importance to Jesus for all believers. As followers of Christ, we are all united by the power of His Holy Spirit. We need to be sure that we live up to that expectation by caring for each other, as Jesus cares for us.]

While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name You gave Me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. [Jesus protected His followers when He lived on earth, and He provided for our protection by asking His Father to protect us. Judas Iscariot rejected Jesus, even after all the lovingkindness Jesus showed him. Everyone will have to live eternally with their choice of accepting or rejecting Jesus.]

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK!

You can have that intimacy when Jesus is your Lord and Savior. If you don’t have that intimacy, please 

contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com so we can discuss how you can have that close relationship with your Creator God.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.

Copyright 2023 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

In the Bible God tells us about events prior to their occurrence. We refer to this as prophecy.  

Prophecy is one way we know God’s ways and thoughts are superior to ours. Isaiah 55:8-9: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” 

No person can ever predict, or prophesy with complete accuracy, without God’s involvement. The test for a prophet was the fulfillment of their prophecies. If even one prophecy was found to be inaccurate, that discounted the prophet as a false prophet. Deuteronomy 18:20-22: “But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die. And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.” 

In John 16:1-3, Jesus told His disciples the following: “All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me.” 

Jesus was preparing His disciples for the persecution they would experience as they followed in His footsteps.  

As we consider His words in John 16:1-3, the apostle Paul comes to mind. In Acts 7-8 we are told the events of the stoning death of Stephen. He was a man who loved the Lord, and served Him without fear. It is an amazing story of faith and trust in God in the face of death.  

But God had warned His disciples, in John 16:1-3 that these men who put them to death would truly believe they were doing God’s will. One of those men was the apostle Paul. Acts 8:1 tells us that Paul was at Stephen’s stoning, and approved: “And Saul approved of their killing him.” [Paul was originally named Saul, but God changed his name according to Acts 13:9.] 

Next, we need to remember what God did in Paul’s life. Once Paul was saved, and truly became God’s disciple, the persecutor became the persecuted. It is likely that at this time God’s words to John would be realized by Paul.  

Paul’s conversion to Christ also proves the extent of God’s love, forgiveness, mercy, and grace. 1 John 1:9tells us that God will forgive anyone who confesses their sin: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This is not a mere mouthing of words, but a heartfelt sorrow being expressed for transgressing the Word of God. Since God forgave Paul, a murderer, and King David, an adulterer and murderer, He will also forgive us when we are truly sorry for our sins, and ask His forgiveness, and walk in repentance. God said He would forgive, and He did it, and still He forgives today. 

When we read about prophesies being fulfilled, it is invigorating to our faith. Everything God says is totally trustworthy, and provides hope for His people. 

Consider the prophesies regarding Jesus. This site: https://www.gotquestions.org/prophecies-of-Jesus.htmlprovides a nice list of prophesies fulfilled by Jesus – His birth, death, and resurrection – 300 prophesies from God were fulfilled by Jesus, and this provides some of those prophesies. 

But God has more prophesies to fulfill – those that detail the future of our world, and the life to come. They include prophesies of Jesus’ return, and some description of His millennial reign, and what the new heaven and new earth will be like.  

The book of Revelation was given to the apostle John as prophetic words to provide encouragement, and to strengthen the faith of His people. Almost 2,000 years later, those words are still encouraging and strengthening God’s people. 

Some people run from the prophesies in Revelation because they are challenging to understand. But God will bring about the described events, in His perfect timing. We shouldn’t shy away from reading Revelation, and the other prophetic books, but should allow the Holy Spirit to bring us understanding, in His timing.  

Because God told us events would happen, and they have happened, we can be completely confident that everything else His Word promises will also happen. 

For instance, in Romans 8:28, God tells us: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Though we may not always experience the immediate working of God in our contrary circumstances for our benefit, because He said it, we can trust it to be the truth. 

What promise or promises from God’s Word give you encouragement to continue on when life is hard. 

Consider Stephen, who knew his earthly life would soon be over, and how he trusted God:

 Acts 7:54-60: “When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.” 

Stephen, facing a brutal death, asked God to forgive those who, in their ignorance (just as Jesus said they would do in John 16:1-3), stoned him. 

Many men and women came against God’s people, and they are still doing so today. But God is not missing any of it, and He is working it all for the good of those who love Him, and serve Him, as Stephen and Paul and so many others have done so, and continue to do so. 

It is very exciting to live knowing that God has everything under control. Fulfilled prophesies support this truth. Since God told us it would happen, and He has proven through Jesus that He brings about the fulfillment of His prophesies, we can completely trust Him for His watchful care over us today, and for His complete fulfillment of the remaining prophesies in the Bible. 

We all need Jesus! Do you believe you need Jesus? If not, please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.comso we can discuss why we all need Jesus. 

Living for Jesus, Donna 

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others! 

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. 

Copyright 2023 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

One of my favorite songs that I learned almost 35 years ago is based upon Lamentations 3:22-23.   

These are the words to the song: 

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end.They are new every morning, new every morning,Great is Thy faithfulness O Lord, Great is Thy faithfulness.” 

Our church has been studying the Psalms, and we have been encouraged to read several each week. As I’ve participated in this, the words: “the steadfast love of God” caught my attention.  

Previously, I had not grasped how often the writers of the Psalms (in the ESV) referred to God’s steadfast love. 

The online dictionary defines steadfast as: “resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering.” God’s love for us, the people He created, is not wishy washy, here today, gone tomorrow. God’s love is resolute. His love is firm and unwavering!  

The ESV uses “steadfast love” in the Psalms 123 times, and that phrase is found a total of 193 times in the entire Bible. I find it interesting that it is used primarily in the Psalms, where the writers often endured hardship and duress. Even in their challenges, they recognized the love of God being unwavering. 

These are some verses from the Psalms that reference His steadfast love: 

Psalm 13:5: “But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.” God’s steadfast love should inspire us to rejoice in the amazing salvation He provides.

 Psalm 25:7: “Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!” God’s steadfast love offers complete and thorough forgiveness for all who confess their sinfulness, and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Even after our salvation, we continue to sin, though that is not what we want to do [Romans 7:15-20], but God’ssalvation cleanses us from all our sins. 

Psalm 31:7: “I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction, you have known the distress of my soul.” The writer realized that even in affliction, God was aware, and the writer could rejoice because of God’s steadfast love. Oftentimes we think that we are alone in our troubles, but the truth is, God is aware, and His steadfast love carries us through our troubles. 

Psalm 32:10: “Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.” Trust in the Lord, and you will forever experience His steadfast love!

Psalm 136:1-3: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for His steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords,for His steadfast love endures forever.” The writer emphasizes God’s forever love, but only those who have a relationship with Jesus will experience that forever steadfast love.  

This should motivate us to share the Gospel – the good news that God loves us and wants to have a relationship with us, and has made a way for that to occur in our lives.  

How does that happen?  

We must acknowledge and confess we are sinners, and that we are separated from God by our sin. We need to confess that we are helpless on our own to change that. No matter what we attempt to do, how much money we might give for charity, or any other “good” work we do, NONE of those are sufficient to pay sin’s penalty. Only Jesus could pay the penalty for our sin, because He was a man, who never sinned! God accepted Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, and He credits salvation (righteousness) to anyone who humbles himself/herself by admitting the need for Jesus’ atonement. 

Deuteronomy 7:9 reminds us of God’s faithfulness to show steadfast love to those who love Him: “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations.” 

God’s love is accessible to every person who is alive, and who wants to entrust their lives to Him. 

Satan wants to tell us that God’s love is not steadfast, but God through the above verses, and many more, reveals that is a lie. 

If you doubt God’s steadfast love, know that it is the enemy of your soul attempting to derail you from the best relationship you can have – a relationship with our loving Creator God, who secured salvation for all who believe, through the precious blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. 

Is Jesus your Lord and Savior, as evidenced through the work of His Holy Spirit in you making changes to your character you would otherwise not be able to make?  

If not, please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com so we can talk about your eternal wellbeing. 

Living for Jesus, Donna 

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others! 

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. 

Copyright 2023 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

God is not afraid of our questions – no matter their content.  However, we must be thoughtful about the manner in which we ask our questions.  

Our questions should not be posed in such a manner that we are insulting God and demeaning His character. 

Our questions should be posed with the desire to gain understanding and insight. 

What questions might you have? Your questions might be to gain insight into a problem you are facing.  

Your questions might pertain to how God answered a prayer, when it differed from your expectations. 

Your questions could be related to gaining further insight into a passage in the Bible you don’t understand. 

There are many reasons to ask God questions. 

Consider how you ask people questions. When we ask someone for help, if we are insulting and demanding, how far does that get us? Why would we think that we should be disrespectful toward God when we have questions? That is wrong thinking. God deserves our best attitude. 

Proverbs 16:24: “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” 

When we take our questions to God, we need to be totally honest with God (after all, He does already know everything that is happening). 

Our questions should be sincere, not flippant. 

Our questions should be with a heart open to receive what God has to say. Our questions should align with what God’s Word tells us. 

For instance, Jeremiah 29:11 states: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” You may be considering that verse and a situation in your life. Perhaps your husband, whom you have loved and devoted your life to just walked out on you. You may be wondering how that possibly could be a good plan for your life. Ask God. But God wants you to ask Him with a mind willing to receive what He has to say, which may be different than what you want Him to say. 

When asking God questions, please remember that the answer to your question may be different for you, than a friend in a similar situation who asks God a similar question.  

God’s answers are not “pat” answers. We are each individually and fearfully made in His image. But Godhas a unique path for each of us. 

Consider Romans 8:28 : “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” This promise from God does not always appear on the surface to be taking place in the circumstances of our lives.  

Perhaps you have lost your job, or your child passed away. Those situations could evoke questions posed to God regarding how that could relate to Romans 8:28. Ask your questions, but with a submissive heart, and respectful attitude, know God does love you, and He truly knows what is best. He knows everything about our situation and our future, our knowledge is extremely limited, and often we have tunnel vision. 

God gives us guidance in James 1:5-6 regarding what we can ask Him for: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” 

The above verse reminds us that when we ask God for something, we need to come by faith, trusting Him and believing that He wants to answer us. Asking God questions based upon Scripture is also important.  

Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” 

Asking God questions is part of prayer, since prayer is communication with God. The above verse reminds us that we should ask with a heart of thanksgiving. When we ask in this manner, we find that God’s peace will guard our hearts and minds, and we will be able to receive God’s answers without fussing over those answers. We will also be able to wait upon God for the answers that don’t come immediately. His timing is perfect, ours is not. 

The book of Habakkuk is a wonderful model for us when we are asking God questions. Below is one of his questions, with God’s replies: 

Habakkuk 1:3: “Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.” Today we could be asking this same question of God. It does appear as though God is tolerating sinful wrongdoing, but God is aware, and has a plan that will be displayed in His perfect timing. 

Habakkuk 1:5: “Look at the nations and watch and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if I told you.” God’s response to Habakkuk indicates that he would not understand everything. We must remember that God is infinite, we are finite, therefore, we won’t understand everything He tells us…that is the life of faith.  

Habakkuk 3:17-19: “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to tread on the heights.”Habakkuk’s response to God’s answers – he would rejoice and be joyful IN his amazing God and Savior.  When the world around us looks like it is crumbling, trusting God is always the response that will bring us peace in the midst of turmoil and the unknown. 

Consider the book of Revelation. We don’t understand all of it, but God has communicated with us through the entire Bible an outline of His plans for the world, summing those plans up in Revelation 21-22. We need to keep our focus on God, and the future plans He has for us, especially when His answers don’t necessarily make sense, or are not what we want to hear. 

Take heart, when you have a living and active relationship with God, through the Lord Jesus Christ, all is well. All is well, not because of what we have done or might do, and not because of our circumstances, but because of His amazing salvation.  

If you do not have a personal relationship with God, what is holding you back? I would like the privilege of talking with you about your relationship with God. 

Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com 

Living for Jesus, Donna 

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others! 

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. 

Copyright 2023 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author. 

I am fully aware that there are people who are unkind. They think only of themselves, and what will make them happy. Their desires are what drive them, and we must be careful if our paths cross. I’ve experienced acts of unkindness, and they leave me sad, and praying for God’s intervention in the lives of those who believe they have the right to be unkind to others. 

At the end of June my husband had surgery. While we were at the surgical center, I noticed several signs posted around the building, including the restroom. These signs were instructions for people to be kind. Before I read further, I was amazed that we have fallen as a society so far that we now must instruct people to “be kind”. The signs included instructions on what behaviors were unacceptable, such as do not bully, do not swear, etc. These signs were posted to support the personnel serving patients.  How can it be that we have lost sight of the truth that we are all people, and everyone deserves respect?   

How can it be that someone being served believes they have the right to be unkind to those serving them? 

How does this happen? 

It happens when people lose sight of God. 

Have we really come so far from the truth of God and His existence that people believe they will not be held accountable for their detestable behavior? 

But God will judge people for their sins. However, He takes great strides to warn us repeatedly, in the Bible, that if we do not repent, He will judge us. God is patient, but one day that will end, and all will be judged for their behavior. He desires people repent of their sins, and He wants them to love and depend upon Him.  

Have you taken the step to repent of your sins by telling God you are a sinner, and that you are sorry and need His forgiveness? If not, why wait? Why miss another minute of experiencing the goodness of God? You can express your belief that Jesus provided atonement for your sins. You can ask God to help you to obey Him, and love Him. You can break the pattern of sin in your life by submitting your life to our amazing Creator God! 

Solomon, in his book Ecclesiastes 1:9 states: “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” 

From Solomon’s words we can extrapolate that we don’t learn from the previous mistakes of others. For instance, God’s chosen people, Israel, did not learn from their forefathers that it was fruitless to reject God. The Israelites talked a good talk about worshiping God, but in reality, their hearts were so entangled with sinful choices that they had abandoned God. This has been the unfortunate pattern of people since Adam and Eve sinned, and their son Cain committed the first murder – the murder of his own brother [Genesis 4]. 

Romans 1: 18-32 provides further insight into the deterioration of people’s values. The following verses can be very difficult to read. They reveal the truth of mankind’s fallen state, yesterday, today, and if people don’t repent and seek God, the decline will follow tomorrow. 

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. No one can say they didn’t have any knowledge of God’s existence. 

The downward spiral for rejecting God: For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Remember all those mythological gods? They are described here. When Alexander the Great came into power, he changed false gods from being made in the likeness of animals to being made in the likeness of men and women [Zeus, Aphrodite, etc.] 

This is what happens when people reject God and follow idolatry that exploits sexuality: Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. Doesn’t this sound like what our world is doing today? This was written almost 2,000 years ago, and the Apostle Paul referenced times earlier than that. How can it be that we are still doing the same sinful behaviors today, and think God will allow it? Isn’t that what people refer to as the definition of insanity – doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result? 

Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” Thus, we need to post signs to indicate how to be kind, because being kind is not our natural inclination. 

True kindness is evidence of God’s involvement in a person’s life. It is a “fruit” of His Holy Spirit [Galatians 5:22-23]. True kindness comes from a living and active relationship with God.  Do you have this relationship with Him? It comes through accepting Jesus as one’s Lord and Savior, believing that only Jesus could atone for one’s sin.  

Since true kindness is evidence of a relationship with God, and most people today have rejected Him, we can understand why people need to be instructed on what behaviors are unkind. This sheds light on the behavior of many people today. 

But God is giving every living person the opportunity to repent. Please don’t miss this window of opportunity.  

Would you like to discuss any of this? Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com 

Living for Jesus, Donna 

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others! Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.

 Copyright 2023 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Acts 4:13 makes this amazing statement: “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

Let’s put this verse into further context according to Acts 4. 

Two of God’s Apostles, Peter and John, were speaking before the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin were a group of Jewish leaders, perhaps comparable to the U.S. Supreme Court. Seventy men along with the high priest of the day comprised the Sanhedrin. They are known for their mock trials that ended with Jesus being crucified. They also did not believe in the doctrine of resurrection.

Peter and John had participated in the healing of a lame man. Their notoriety spread as a result of this, and that troubled the ungodly leaders of the Sanhedrin. Additionally, Jesus’ resurrection was being proclaimed by Peter and John, thus further causing trouble for the Jewish trouble.

In Acts 7:7, Peter and John were questioned regarding the source of the power behind the healing of the lame man. The Holy Spirit filled Peter, and he boldly answered the question, pointing to the source of the healing that was done in the name of Jesus. He reminded them they crucified Him, and quoted from Psalm 118:22 – “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’”. He continued to state in Acts 7:14 that only in Jesus’ name can salvation be found. 

The Sanhedrin were not happy! However, they did stop and take note that these men were “unschooled, ordinary men”. This astonished them. 

But God made certain they connected these men with Jesus.

If there is one thing I want people to do when they remember me, it is to connect me with Jesus, and then forget about me, and recognize Him!

How does that happen?

It happens the same way it did for Peter and John. They stuck close to Jesus. So close, that the dust from His feet was likely all over them [A plug for Kristi McLelland’s study – “The Gospel on the Ground”].

Peter and John heard what Jesus taught.

Peter and John witnessed how Jesus interacted with others.

Peter and John experienced Jesus’ powerful miracles as He healed many, fed thousands from little, etc.

Peter and John were there when Jesus was arrested.

Peter and John saw the resurrected Jesus.

Peter and John were there when He revealed Himself to many after He was resurrected.

Peter and John trusted Jesus as their Lord and Savior and learned to obey Him, precisely.

You and I can have a similar experience with Jesus when….

we believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior – taking Him at His Word for who He is, and following His lead.

we prayerfully communicate with Him. 

we are filled with God’s Holy Spirit.

we worship Him through the study of His Word.

we meet with others to study His Word.

we obey God in His Biblical commands. 

we obey Him as He leads us in personal ways – generously giving to help meet the needs of others.

we fearlessly make the Gospel known to others.

Do you want others to notice that you have been with Jesus?

How committed to that goal are you? 

How committed are you to making Him the priority of each day, no matter what else is scheduled?

Are you committed enough to boldly share Jesus so that you are not hindered by those who oppose Him? 

What might you need to put aside so that your depth of relationship with Jesus is similar to Peter’s and John’s?  

If you are committed to this goal, then asking Jesus to show you what needs to change in your life is necessary. Be prepared! Jesus may ask you to put aside a vacation or making the goal of the vacation a Gospel-centered event. He might ask you to decrease pleasure reading or watching TV. He might ask you to spend that money you were saving for a new purse, clothes, etc. in order to support a missionary. 

We don’t know what Jesus might ask us to do, but God always asks us to do what will build His kingdom and bless us.

Peter and John were serious about making Jesus known. 

We can also be serious about making Jesus known when we spend significant time with Him. When we move in sync with the Holy Spirit, people will know that we’ve been with Jesus!

Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com if I can pray with you about making Jesus known.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.

Copyright 2023 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

In Hebrews 11:16 we are told that the people of faith “were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” 

Please consider this verse. The people of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11 served God under duress and trying circumstances. 

But God knew how to encourage them, and He knows how to encourage us. He has given His promise of a future home! Every follower of Jesus has the same future awaiting us – eternity with Jesus, in the perfect city that He has prepared for us. Please note the tense – the city is already prepared.

God is not needing to do any last minute building of this city. Everything is set for Jesus’ followers to arrive there. No earthly city will ever be perfect, but God’s heavenly city that He has prepared for us is perfect. Nothing on earth can provide the fulfillment and satisfaction we long for, only God’s heavenly city can do that for us. 

These are some of the truths the Bible provides regarding our future home: “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,The holy dwelling places of the Most High.God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;God will help her when morning dawns.” Psalm 46:4-5 

These verses tell us that our future home is the dwelling place of the Most High God! Our perfect, loving Redeemer will be with us, in person, all the time! Unlike this heaven and earth, our future home will never end. 

Hebrews 11:10 tells us that our future home’s “architect and builder is God”. We couldn’t find anyone who could come close to His skills as an architect and builder!

Revelation 21:2 describes what John saw regarding our future home: “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.”Consider the excitement and anticipation of a groom as he watches his bride enter the room to meet him. She is “adorned” – dressed and prepared for him. This is such a beautiful picture of what the Lord is doing in the lives of His followers. No wonder the people identified in Hebrews were encouraged by their future home!! This truth should help us through the trials of this life, as it did for the people of Hebrews 11.  

Revelation 22:5 adds more details about our future home: “There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”

Revelation 21:14 provides this information: “And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” Who will get to live in this future home? Only those people who have Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  

We are reminded by the Apostle John, in John 14:1-3 of this truth: “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” 

The promise Jesus makes in these verses should strengthen our faith, and encourage us, when the things of this temporal home are upside down.  We should desire our future home because it is the dwelling place of God. We should desire our future home because God has prepared it for us. 

But God doesn’t want us to lose sight of the work He has called us to while we are in this temporal home. We are called to share the Good News of Jesus, and His amazing work of redemption, to our family and friends who are still locked up in their sin. Christ’s followers are set free from the bondage of our sin, and that should motivate us to want to help others know Jesus, and have the hope of our future home. 

Hebrews 11:16 also tells us that “God is not ashamed to be called our God”. He is proud to be our God. Even while we, as His followers, still sin, He loves us unconditionally. What more could we ask for? How does pondering the truths about our future home that God has prepared for those who are His followers encourage you? 

If you are not yet His followers, why not make the decision right now to confess your need for Jesus’ atonement for your sins? You can follow that profession up with a true commitment to pursue God, and offer yourself as a living sacrifice for His glory and purposes. 

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2  

Can I help you find Jesus as your Lord and Savior?  Do you need some encouragement? Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com 

Living for Jesus, Donna P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others! 

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. 

Copyright 2023 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Some might say, our true colors are revealed when we are in a tough situation. 

God is always doing refining work in my life. He has used my tough situations to reveal to me where my heart is with regard to my relationship with Him. I’ve had to confirm to God, and to myself, that I trust Him with the challenges set before me. 

In October 2022 I had my right hip replaced. It was an amazing experience. I had no pain, slight discomfort, but that vanished quickly. I replaced the walker with a cane after one week, and the cane was gone in under two weeks. Recovery required work, but God brought swift healing.

In May 2023 I had my left hip replaced. This has not been anywhere near as fun and exciting as the right hip. The discomfort has been no fun. It took me two weeks to exchange the walker for a cane, and another two weeks to shed the cane. I was also leaning on my cane harder than I thought, and pinched a nerve in my hand….I don’t need any more recovering body parts, please God!!! I’m walking with a slight limp as the muscles are sore, but God has been drawing me closer to Him through this process. 

This difficult situation revealed that my faith needed strengthening, because I was not suffering as well as I wanted to!

Even though I have walked with God, through a personal relationship with Jesus, for 36 years, I understand that I have so much more to learn about my amazing Father, and about myself. That is revealed when the going gets tough!

I never want to miss the lessons God has for me in my tough situations, so I spend time talking with God about those lessons. I read His Word, so that I can hear His voice, as I listen to His Holy Spirit.

Leaning on God so that I could walk again has brought me closer to Him, and that is what I want.

I’m not on the other side of this trial, but I know that God will get me there. I simply have to wait well as the healing process takes place. 

God is showing me where my faith is weak, and where it is strong – all to His glory for giving me faith at all!

During these days, especially when they have been very challenging, God has met me, held me close, and encouraged me to keep going. 

When I felt like giving up (certainly not an option but it was a momentary consideration), God reminded me that I am not alone, and that He is here helping me through my recovery. He has helped turn moments of fear to faith, and my pain to praise. Patience…another valuable lesson is coming from this surgery!

God is helping me to make choices that honor Him in my recovery. It requires intentional interaction with God, sometimes moment by moment. I remember, concentrate on, and believe His promises, and they strengthen me.

As I am going through this challenging time, I’ve been reading the books of Kings and Chronicles. This account of King Hezekiah in 2 Kings 18:5-8, and 2 Kings 18:13-15 struck a chord with me:

2 Kings 18:5-8: “Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to the Lord and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. From watchtower to fortified city, he defeated the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory.”

King Hezekiah was a man who loved God! You can read more of his biography in 2 Chronicles 29-32. 

Hezekiah had done right before God. He had gotten everything in order so God was again the center of the people’s attention. So why did God make it hard by sending these Syrians against him? What was God‘s purpose? Perhaps God wanted to take His relationship with Hezekiah deeper, and the only way to do that was to send him a real challenge, according to the passage below.  

Hezekiah had done a lot of cleaning up of the ungodly behaviors by removing the false worship and reinstituting the Passover and other feasts. But God was taking him deeper. It appears to me that God was revealing the weakness in Hezekiah’s faith, as is revealed in the following verses:

2 Kings 18:13-15: “In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them.  So Hezekiah king of Judah sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish: “I have done wrong. Withdraw from me, and I will pay whatever you demand of me.” The king of Assyria exacted from Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. So Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace. At this time Hezekiah king of Judah stripped off the gold with which he had covered the doors and doorposts of the temple of the Lord, and gave it to the king of Assyria.”

Do you see how God put Hezekiah up against a wall? When the going got really tough, Hezekiah’s faith faltered. Sometimes, that is the best way for God to reach us. He sends a really challenging trial, which causes us to take our eyes off of the situation, and stare into His amazing face, so that we can get the correct perspective.  This can be a pivotal point in our relationship with our Creator. It was for Hezekiah. It is for me.

As the rest of his biography reveals in 2 Kings 18-19, when the Assyrians came with further threats, Hezekiah humbled himself before God, and God gave the Israelites victory. Even though, in a moment of weakness, Hezekiah surrendered some to the Assyrians, God gave him another chance to stand firm for the Lord, and this time Hezekiah met the challenge with faith in God.

God wants to show us where our faith is weak, so that He can strengthen it, and knit our hearts closer to His. God wants to get our attention, and when the rubber meets the road, it is a great time to evaluate where our attention is focused.

What is your challenge that makes it appear you are pinned up against a wall? How will you draw nearer to God through this situation? You can focus on God’s character, and believe His promises as you communicate with Him through the reading of His Word. He promises that He will never leave you nor forsake you. 

The Message states Hebrews 13:5 in this way: “Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help; I’m fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?”  When we take our eyes off the things of this world, and focus on our loving Father, we can make choices in the tough times that reveal our love for God, and bring us His peace and joy, even if the circumstances remain a challenge.

What we do when the going gets tough reveals our character. It reveals truth about ourselves, and God wants to use that for our benefit. Will you trust Him to do this? Why or why not?

Can I pray for you?  Can I help you find Jesus as your Lord and Savior?  Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.

Copyright 2023 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Have you ever heard someone ask the question: “Is that the real deal, the genuine thing?”

Genuine is defined online as: “not pretended, sincere, honest.” Not pretended could be worded as “not counterfeit”.

I’ve been considering this with regard to those who say they are Christians.

How do we know if someone is truly a genuine follower of Jesus – not simply a believer (after all, the demons believe), but someone who truly loves and wants to follow and submit to Christ’s leading?

I know that I want to be known as a genuine follower of Christ. I want people to know they can come to me for Biblical guidance and help, and know that I will provide them with insight from God’s Word.

Can we always know someone is a genuine follower of Jesus? I believe we can, but God doesn’t always want us to cast out those who are not followers of Jesus:  Consider these words from Jesus: Matthew 13:24-30: “Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” 

There are those within our churches and Bible studies who truly don’t have a relationship with Jesus, but God will deal with them in His way and in His timing. As we continue to pray for them, we hope they will come to a saving knowledge of Christ.

God, in His Word, provides us with help so that we can be discerning in recognizing those who are genuine followers of Jesus.

God’s Holy Spirit indwells each person who has a genuine commitment to Christ. The Holy Spirit’s work is what helps us discern the genuineness of those who follow Jesus.

We need to be careful when we are “assessing” people for evidence of a relationship with Christ, when they profess Him as Lord and Savior. We need to be certain that our motives in doing so are pure. We need to be careful to not jump too quickly in coming to a conclusion. After all, I’ve walked with Jesus for 37 years, and there is still much work God is doing to refine my character. If someone took a snapshot of my life, and that is what they utilized to judge me, someone could wrongfully conclude that I don’t love Jesus. We must walk with people for a season before we make a determination.

We must consider why we would need to discern someone’s genuineness as a follower of Jesus. It might be due to the person wanting to serve in a ministry in the church, such as teaching children. We want people who truly love Jesus to teach children, because you cannot share God’s love if you don’t have it yourself. You can fake it for a while, but without the empowering of the Holy Spirit, it will lack longevity.

Perhaps someone wants to be baptized, as a testimony of their love for Jesus. Does that always indicate a true conversion to Christ? No, I don’t believe so. Emotions can sometimes mask truth. It is longevity that often proves the truth. It is not our job to prove that every person who gets baptized is truly a follower of Jesus. If his or her profession gives an understanding of the Gospel and its components – our sinful state, Jesus as the only way to be saved – then baptism can be the next step. What follows helps us to discern (for ourselves and for others) where we truly stand with Jesus.

For instance, these are some evidences of God at work in a person’s life: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23.

Evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work is not complete in a day or even in a complete lifetime. This is why we need to be careful in judging. But God provides this evidence to give us assurance of His permanence in our lives, and as a testimony to others that He exists, and produces a new character in those who love and truly follow Jesus. A genuine faith is an abiding and pursuing faith of Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 provides a perspective on why we must be discerning: “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.”

We have a foe, and he is excellent at deceit. 

2 Timothy 4:3-4 provides more insight: “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”

As we pay attention to our world today, and the “teaching” that is touted as solid, so often it falls apart when we hold it up to the Bible. We must be discerning for genuine Biblical teaching.

I was reading a great book on God, and His holiness. It is filled with Scripture. As I was reading, I found an error in one of the verses: Genesis 2:17: “God said, “You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.”

The portion I’ve highlighted is not accurate. That was from another Scripture where Eve in Genesis 3:3 added to God’s word the part about touching the fruit. Somehow this well-respected author missed this error in her book. It is an excellent book. I’ve corrected my copy, and contacted the author.

People who do not know God’s Word, or check what they read with His Word, can be deceived. The above error is not a salvation point, but this is how Satan works – he gets a person to change a word, and the meaning gets messed up.

In the past, a woman changed Psalm 46:10 from “Be still and know that I am God” to “Be still and know that you are gods”. A simple change, but drastic in its lie.

Genuine believers are those who spend time in their Bibles. They want to know what God has to say. They want to live by His guidance, because He gives the best guidance possible. They want to be able to discern between the truth and a lie.

Genuine believers are people who prayerfully depend upon God. Communication with Him is their lifeline.

Genuine believers are people who want to share the Gospel, because they understand how great a salvation we have received.

Genuine believers are patient and merciful with others, because God is patient and merciful with us. This takes time, but the more time we spend in the Bible, the greater our character development.

I believe the greatest test is that we love one another. John 13:35 states this truth: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Our love for others is constantly being shaped by God as we read the Bible and spend time with Him. 

Loving others requires believing the best. Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

This love is not the you do for me, and I’ll do for you type of love. It is love that gives sacrificially. It is love that bears with others when they are unloving, and helps others work through those challenges. This love can only come from a true relationship with Jesus.

Genuine followers of Jesus are willing to confess their sins, repent, and make restitution if necessary. Dealing with one’s sin is not how most people behave today. People often excuse their sin – “what’s in the past is done with” and other excuses are common. But God tells us that true followers of Jesus confess their sins and repent (1 John 1:9).

Are you a genuine follower of Jesus? What “proof” do you have? 

If you have any doubts, please talk with someone who truly loves and follows Jesus.

I am also available to talk about your relationship with Jesus. Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.

Copyright 2023 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

How many times have you made a promise, only to fail to keep your word? How many people have made promises to you, but disappointed you when they failed to keep their word? Often we project onto God our hurts experienced from others who have not kept their promises. 

But God always keeps His Word, and He always wants what is best for our lives. 

Everything God promises is reliable, dependable.

Since this is the truth, why do we fail to trust His promises?

Might it be due to our mistaken expectations of God? Might we expect God to meet every creature comfort we expect we deserve? Might the problem be that we feel we deserve God’s blessings, instead of appreciating them as gifts from Him?

John Piper said this: “Faith glorifies God because it is a future-oriented confidence in God’s integrity and power and wisdom to follow through all His promises.”

God’s promises are not elusive. God’s promises are able to be fulfilled because He is God – Sovereign, Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and so much more.

When we have a need, God is ready and willing to supply the needs of those who are His own, through a personal relationship with Jesus. Of course, we must be sure we aren’t confusing God with Santa Claus – expecting Him to supply all our wants. God wants to make sure our lives are filled with His riches – riches that we receive because of Jesus. Those riches are far greater than things of this world. Those riches include a depth of relationship with Jesus. Those riches do include what we need for this life, but that is not the priority. “And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

How about trusting God for the plans for our lives? Do we spend sufficient time seeking God so that each day is spent honoring Him? Do we really want to do everything God directs us to do, or might we think our plans are better? Maybe we think that God wants us happy, so we take a side trail from the path God has us on because it looks better in our eyes than God’s path? 

But God is far more interested in wanting us eternally blessed, and often those blessings come through trials and challenges. When God declares His plans are best, we should do everything we can to follow His plan. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

God’s plans always provide for our eternal future and give us hope!

How about fear? How much time do we waste each day on fear and anxiety when God wants to give us peace in the midst of struggles?  He promises us that we can cast our cares upon Him. Why do we not run immediately to God when stress starts to rear itself in our minds? “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  Isaiah 41:10

God wants to bless us with His presence, and by the power of His generous, gracious, righteous right hand! What more can we ask for? Why do we not jump (spiritually) into His loving arms, and allow Him to protect and nurture us, and relieve our stress and fear from our lives?

Of course, the greatest promise, the greatest gift, comes through Jesus: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16.

The greatest promise is God’s gift of eternal life, an eternal existence with Jesus! We dream of a life without fear, struggles, hardships, and heartache. God not only offers that, but he PROMISES it to every person who will submit their lives to Jesus as their Lord and Savior. That is done when we realize that we are hopeless sinners, without any way out of our sinful state unless we accept Jesus’ atoning work on the cross. 

When this happens, the Holy Spirit regenerates us, and all the promises of God are guaranteed for those of us who have this relationship with Jesus.

“For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him. That is why it is through Him that we utter our Amen to God for His glory.”  2 Corinthians 1:20 

God promises His presence for those who love Him! “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2

These are only a few of the numerous promises that are recorded from God to His people in the Bible. You may find it worthwhile to pick a book of the Bible, and as you read it, notate God’s promises. You can spend time contemplating those promises, and how they apply to your life. I know that you will be strengthened in your relationship with Him as you do this, and your faith will grow. 

There is a caution, be sure to keep the promises in context of God’s Word…we tread on dangerous ground when we make God’s promises say what we want to hear.

Consider Abraham: “No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised.” Romans 4:20-21

If you spend time focusing on God’s promises, what do you think God will do in you?  Who might you be able to encourage, as God encourages you and builds your faith? As you lean into God’s promises, how might you handle adversity and fear the next time they come your way?

I would enjoy talking with you about God’s promises. Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.

Copyright 2023 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.