Friday, September 4, 2009

Promises We Can Trust!

Even if no one else reads this - for I know I have written a lot below - I am writing this to encourage my own heart today.  

I am so thankful for God's Word and for the beautiful promises found therein.  How grateful I am that His words are entirely and completely trustworthy.  

During our Wednesday night youth Bible study, David is preaching through the book of Luke. This past Wednesday we finished up Luke chapter 1 with the song that Zacharias sang after he had been unable to speak for quite some time.  Although Scripture references Zacharias as "righteous before God" and "blameless", he still doubted the words that God had sent an angel to tell him; he doubted God's promise that his wife - old and barren up to that point - was going to bear a son.  So the angel told him that he would "be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place" (Luke 1:20).  We can conclude that from the time he was struck mute (and deaf, which can be assumed from other verses) at the beginning of his wife's pregnancy, until the birth of his son, Zacharias had this time to sit in silence and ponder the greatness of God.  When God's promise was fulfilled, and Zacharias' wife, Elizabeth, indeed gave birth to their son, he displayed his belief in God's words and his speech and hearing were restored.  He was filled with the Holy Spirit and began singing a song of praise to God:

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, 
For He has visited and redeemed His people, 
And has raised up a horn of salvation for us 
In the house of His servant David . . . 
Through the tender mercy of our God, 
With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; 
To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, 
To guide our feet into the way of peace."    
 (Luke 1: 68-69, 78-79)

This "horn of salvation" and "Dayspring from on high" was referring to Christ Jesus.  But Zacharias was speaking as if Christ, the Messiah, had already "visited and redeemed His people" (v.68).  But Jesus hadn't even been born yet.  The Messiah had NOT yet come.  Why did Zacharias say this?  Because, through his past months of silently pondering the person and character of God, Zacharias knew Whom he believed, and that God's words were as good as done!  He felt free to speak as if Christ had already come, because He knew that if God had made a promise of a coming Messiah, that he could take that promise to the bank!  He could believe God's promise with all his might!  Indeed, God's promises are "yes and amen" . . . as good as done!  

The other day I was reading from a devotional book that my husband got me a couple years ago, that continues to bless my heart each time I pick it up.  I was encouraged, primarily by the familiar, yet beautiful promise of Romans 8:28 : 

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." 

In addition to reading these glorious words of comfort,  a sweet peace flooded my heart and mind as I read a comment Charles Spurgeon made in reference to this Romans passage :

"If God ordains it, the worst calamity is the wisest and kindest thing that could befall me." 

"Wisest and kindest" . . . those are strong words.  So no matter what God ordains for me, my family, my children - no matter how difficult - I know it is what will ultimately bring Him the most glory and what will work in each of us the most good.  He promised that it would!  I can be assured that it is the wisest and kindest thing that God could ordain.   Because His wisdom and kindness is in a totally different category than that of any human - Wisdom and Kindness is Who He IS - what He ordains could be nothing less than the most kind and wise providence.  

Spurgeon went on to say:

"And so, believing that God rules all, that He governs wisely, that He brings good out of evil, believer's hearts are assured, and they are able to calmly meet each trial as it comes."

"Christians don't merely hold this as a theory, they KNOW it as a matter of fact. . . 
Every event so far has worked out the most divinely blessed results." 

Specifically today, this promise comforts me most in regard to the lives and future of my children.  I am so thankful that our Sovereign God is trustworthy, faithful, and that His promise to "work all things together for good" is as good as done!  Praise the Lord!              
     

17 comments:

Seth, Jen, Hannah, Cailyn, and Isaac said...

Katie - praying His peace continues to reign in your heart. I'm having my own "nervous mommy" moment tonight...and for me they seem to come un-bidden, and the most random times.

David and Katie Kizziah said...

Jen! Thank you for your constant encouragement and kind words to me. I don't usually write comments in response to those on our blog... so I hope you get this message. I miss you guys so! I cannot seem to access your blog - is it still up and running? I would love to stay updated with your family.

teresa pugh said...

Katie, what an encouragement you have always been and continue to be to your mom. I love you dear one with all my heart. John David and Claire have the most precious mom in the world. Thank you for reminding me that the "whatevers" of life are soooooooo in His hands and for His Ultimate Glory in and through our lives. May John David and Claire be vessels of honor for His Glory. Love, MOM

David and Katie Kizziah said...

Thank you so much, Sweetest T! You have encouraged my heart greatly, today especially. I love you and praise the Lord for allowing us to walk through life as mother and daughter. You are such a blessing to me!

Melanie Campbell said...

Katie - I am always so blessed by the posts that you make! God's promises are so amazing and I am very encouraged when I see how He is always fulfilling those promises in my life and the lives of others! I hope you are doing well today, and let me know if there's anything I can do to help! You, David, John David, & Claire are always in my prayers! See you at the party tomorrow (if you're not giving birth by then)! :)
~Melanie

Chad & Amber said...

Katie,

Precious sister, your post was not just for your heart, you have blessed others as well! Thank you for taking the time to share such truth. As our family walked through the darkest pit we had ever known during Chad's illness it was the truth of Romans 8:28 that was not just encouragement, it was survival.

Thankful for you,
Amber

David and Katie Kizziah said...

Melanie ~ Thank you for your kind words and your prayers for our family, as well as your willingness to help out. I am so glad you are my friend, and I look forward to hanging out tomorrow night! Love!

Amber ~ Thank you for your encouragement.
What a testimony your family has of the faithful promises of God! I loved how you said that the promise of Romans 8:28 was "survival." How true! I love you and wish I could see you all the time!

Seth, Jen, Hannah, Cailyn, and Isaac said...

Katie, yeah, our blog is still up. http://thedeibelcrew.blogspot.com

I need your email address!! :o)

The Parkers said...

Katie,
I could read your posts all day long, regardless of how long so keep em' coming! Thank you so much for this reminder and wonderful words of encouragement. Even from long distance, God uses you to bless my heart. Thank you dear Sister!

David and Katie Kizziah said...

Lydia ~
Thank you for your sweet words. You are a blessing to me too, my friend. I've got to call you SOON!!

Jen~
Our email address is lifesvapor@gmail.com . . .
Thanks for your blog address!

SGB said...

That is so awesome Katie, Thanks for sharing your heart! We will be praying for a easy and quick delivery. Stacy Darty

David and Katie Kizziah said...

Thank you for your prayers, Mrs. Stacy. They are greatly appreciated!

molly b. said...

Katie-
I needed this message today! Thank you for reminding us of these truths! Much Love- molly

David and Katie Kizziah said...

Molly ~
I am glad your heart was encouraged. I have to remind myself of these truths daily.

You have blessed my heart so by your willingness to serve our family. Thank you for making the trip to our home yesterday, despite how you were feeling. I love Claire's room, thanks to your work. You are so talented, so loved, and so greatly appreciated!

Brooke Adams said...

Hey There My Katie!!! It's Brooke Adams. Just wanted to say I love you blog and have enjoyed the pictures of John David and excited to see your ELizabeth Clair soon. I also wanted to let you know that I am also blogging now. Look for me at honeybee7283.blogspot.com

Melanie Campbell said...

Hey Katie! You know I love to stalk your blog, and since you haven't posted anything in a week I just decided to comment on this post again! ;)I just wanted to let you know that I'm continuing to pray for all of you (especially for J.D. - that he will do well in the hospital environment and adjust well to having a new baby around!), and I hope everything went well at your doctors appointment yesterday! I love you! :)
~Melanie

David and Katie Kizziah said...

Great to hear from you, Brooke! I was so excited to have a message from you . . . I will definitely be checking out your blog! Love, love!

Hey Melanie! Thank you for commenting again and reminding me of your prayers for our family. Thank you for being such a faithful prayer warrior for us, specifically during this time of upcoming transition for us all. We greatly appreciate your specific prayers for JD and the hospital, transition to sharing Mom & Dad, etc. You are a dear friend and we are so thankful for you. Love you so!