2 Corinthians 1:20 - "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us."

When I truly look at my life, even the disappointing times, I know that God has never failed me.  I’ve failed Him many times, but He has never 
failed me; and I know He never will.  God’s word says that we should go boldly ahead because He Himself goes before us and He will neither leave
us nor forsake us (Deut. 31:8).   This is a promise that He made to Joshua, but also a promise He makes to us who live in his will.  Experience has
taught me that this is true.   Any time that I’ve ever truly needed anything or faced any challenge, He has met my needs completely.  (Remember 
though, this only applies in as much as we are in His will.  If you step out of His will then you may very well have a different experience.)  At this 
point in life, when I’m truly thinking about these things, I can see that this is the basis He has provided for living in expectation; expectation of 
fulfillment of all of His promises.  I’m thankful for all the times that He has provided for my needs in the past.  However, I no longer look at past 
blessings with just gratitude for the fact that they were provided.  I look at them as a reason for living in expectation that He will solve problems and
answer prayers as future needs arise. 

How freeing a thing is that?  We can serve God trusting always that so long as we are moving according to His will, that nothing will stand inthe way.  There’s no obstacle that can’t be overcome, no burden that can’t be removed.  He says that He won’t leave you or forsake you, that
He’s always going before you. That is a huge promise.  Think about it.  The eternal God has made you this promise today.  These words are worth
more than the paper they’re written upon.   We may say, “Hey that’s great”, but to truly live in expectation of His promises fulfilled is what
He wants.  Living this way is living in faith; and faith is what pleases God.  Jesus said,"Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed
are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29)  Thomas saw Christ resurrected and then believed it to be so.  God met the
greatest need of man in Christ’s resurrection, yet man didn’t understand this fulfilled promise until after the event physically occurred (even the
disciples thought that the cross was the end).  Likewise God has already promised us much more.  So, we should live in expectation of these
promises fulfilled.  How bold can you be for God when you can live in the expectation that His promises to you have already been fulfilled? 

How bold can you be if you know that God has promised and that He’s going before you in a situation and that when you get there He’ll be right there with you; never leaving you alone for even one moment.  Could you go to unknown places at the end of the earth as a missionary, without fear of the unknown?  Could you witness to a stranger without worrying if you’d be ridiculed?  Could you face difficult circumstances of life without losing hope?  

God’s promises have application to everything that we face in life.  Let’s take hold of them.
 
 Shawn