We’re living in unsettling times. Politics and economies are volatile; natural disasters and disease outbreaks are affecting millions; fear is a pandemic. It’s time for a change! While we cannot always alter our circumstances, let’s determine to transform our hearts, minds, and relationships through a renewed perspective of Christ’s imminent return and eternal promises. These powerful promises are straight from God’s Word, and they contain practical applications for daily life.
Six Promises That Will Transform Your Heart
1. The Promise of God's Love
God demonstrated His love for us by giving the most extravagant gift possible—the life of His Son. Jesus accepted our punishment, paid the price for our sins, and then offered us the new life He bought for us. He willingly gave up the comforts of heaven so that we might receive God’s love. This world will disappoint us, but God’s love never will. The promise of His love is available to everyone at no additional cost; our only burden is to accept it.
John 3:16-17
2. The Promise of Forgiveness
Just as a shepherd will search the hills for one lost sheep, God pursues every human being He has created. The Hound of Heaven is an 1890 poem by Francis Thompson that describes the Lord’s relentless pursuit of our soul. It begins, “I fled Him, down the nights and down the days; I fled Him, down the arches of the years; I fled Him, down the labyrinthe [sic] ways of my own mind; and in the mist of tears I hid from Him, and under running laughter.” God loves us with intense passion and yearns to bring us back into the fold of His protection and forgiveness.
Matthew 18:12-14
3. The Promise of Purpose
Are you collapsing under the weight of your responsibilities? When we give our schedule and burdens to Jesus, He promises to replace our stress with rest. We will still have work to do, but if we live each day in His presence, we will experience rejuvenation and refreshment. By aligning our priorities with His, even the most wearisome work will transform into a meaningful, God-ordained mission.
Matthew 11:28-30
4. The Promise of Instruction
Jesus gave the disciples a promise that would encourage them in their ministry and also ensure the validity of the New Testament: the Holy Spirit would help them remember His teaching. They were eyewitnesses of Jesus’ earthly ministry, and the Holy Spirit helped them remember everything He taught without taking away their individual perspectives. The Holy Spirit can help us in the same way. As we study the Bible, we can trust Him to plant truth in our mind, convince us of God’s will, and remind us when we stray from it.
John 14:26
5. The Promise of Immortality
What would you do if you knew nothing could hurt you? Skydiving? Whitewater rafting? Skeleton bobsledding? It would probably change your approach to life quite a bit. While God does not promise to provide this sort of physical protection, He offers unshakable spiritual protection to those who seek Him. Even death itself cannot separate you from His love (Romans 8:38-39). If you fear the Lord, you have His word that you do not need to fear anyone else.
Matthew 10:28-31
6. The Promise of Freedom
Jesus Himself is the truth that sets us free. He is the source of truth, and the perfect standard of what is right. He frees us from slavery to sin, from self-deception, and from deception by Satan. He shows us the way to eternal life with God. Jesus does not give us freedom to do what we want, but freedom to follow God. As we seek to serve Him, Jesus’ perfect truth frees us to be all that God desires for us to be.
John 8:31-32, NLT
Six Promises That Will Transform Your Mind
1. The Promise of Inner Peace
Sin, fear, uncertainty, doubt, and numerous other forces are at war within us. But the peace of God moves into the heart and mind of every believer to restrain these hostile forces and offers comfort in place of conflict. Unlike worldly peace, Christ’s peace does not involve any fear. It is only possible because of Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. For those who believe He is the Son of God, peace comes from trusting that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are actively at work and completely in control.
John 14:27-28
2. The Promise of Joy
When things are going well, we feel elated, but unexpected hardships can sink our spirits. Temporary happiness cannot compare to the joy that comes from a consistent relationship with Jesus Christ. His joy transcends the rolling waves of circumstance and buoys our spirit through hard times. When our life is intertwined with His, He helps us walk through adversity and manage prosperity. The joy of living each day with Jesus Christ will keep us calm, no matter how high or low our circumstances.
John 15:9-11
3. The Promise of Intimacy
It’s no wonder the Bible instructs us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17): prayer is our primary means of communicating with our Heavenly Father. Some people seem to think God is reluctant to answer their prayers, so they try to persuade Him with lengthy entreaties. Such prayers demonstrate a misunderstanding of God’s nature. He numbers the hairs of our head (Matthew 10:30), and He knows what we need before we ask. God invites us to pray because He yearns to have an authentic, intimate relationship with us.
Matthew 6:6-8
4. The Promise of Provision
Stress is a pandemic that affects millions each year, yet Jesus commands us not to worry. How can we avoid it? By placing our faith in the Creator of the universe who loves us and knows our needs before we do. Responsible planning is good, but dwelling on how our planning could go wrong demonstrates a lack of faith. God Himself has promised to provide for our well-being.
“Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?”
Luke 12:22-28, NLT
5. The Promise of Jesus' Continued Presence
Jesus knew that one day He would leave His disciples, yet He promised to remain with them. How could this be? The Spirit of God Himself would come to care for and guide them. This same Spirit watches over God’s people and guides us today. He helps us live according to God’s will and build Christ’s Church on earth. By faith we can appropriate the Spirit’s presence and power each day.
John 14:16-19
6. The Promise of Recognition
Our love for God can be measured by how we treat others. Jesus’ example of giving a cup of cold water to someone who thirsts is a good model of unselfish service. A child usually can’t or won’t return a favor. But God notices every good deed we do as if He were the one receiving it. Although no one else may see your act of kindness, God assures us He witnesses and rewards every good deed.
Matthew 10:42
Six Promises That Will Transform Your Outreach
1. The Promise of Christ’s Commission
Jesus instructed His disciples to go into all the world—to share the message of salvation and the promise that those who believe in Him can be forgiven and live eternally with God. Today Christians in all parts of the world are telling this Good News to people who haven’t heard about Christ. They witness by the authority of the Father, for Jesus’ sake, and through the Holy Spirit. Do you ever feel as though you don’t have the skill or determination to be a witness for Christ? Press into your relationship with Him. The Holy Spirit will lead you to opportunities and give you the wisdom to share His message.
Mark 16:15-16
2. The Promise of Power
Raising the dead is about as amazing as you can get, yet Jesus promised His disciples would do greater things. What could this mean? The “greater works” would come when His disciples carried the Good News of God’s Kingdom into other parts of the world. Their works, and ours, are not more spectacular, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, they stretch far beyond the Middle East and into every nation.
John 14:12-13
3. The Promise of Christ's Influence
Does a candle work hard to produce light? Of course not. Once it is lit, it burns readily until the wick is consumed. Spiritually speaking, Jesus provides the entire world with endless, inextinguishable light through us (John 1:5; 8:12). In the same way God revealed His presence to Moses through a burning bush, Jesus Christ’s light radiates effortlessly through His followers. The closer we draw to His presence, the brighter we will shine. As we live for Christ, we can be confident that our good deeds will bring glory to the Father.
Matthew 5:14-16
4. The Promise of Responsibility
When Jesus returns in glory, the whole world will witness it. For God’s people, it will be a moment of triumph and glory, the fulfillment of His greatest promises. But it will strike terror in the heart of every unbeliever. Their fate will be sealed with no more tomorrows for repentance. Knowing this day is imminent and inevitable, Christians have a responsibility to share the Good News at every opportunity.
Matthew 24:30-31
5. The Promise of God's Grace
Jesus taught a parable about workers in a vineyard to explain the kingdom of heaven: Entrance is by God’s grace alone. In this story, God is the landowner and believers are the workers. Just as the workers received equal pay, every believer receives the same gift of salvation—no matter how old they are or what their situation may be. When we share our faith with those who feel far from God’s love and mercy, we can assure them of God’s even-handed grace.
So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, “Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.” And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, saying, “These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.” But he answered one of them and said, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?” So the last will be first, and the first last.
Matthew 20:1-16, emphasis added
6. The Promise of Abundance
Your perspective on money is the key to God’s promise of abundance. Do you see it as a tool for blessing others? Does God’s love touch your wallet? If so, you have His word that you are storing up lasting treasures in heaven. Maintaining God’s perspective on money will enable you to reach a dying world with the love of Christ, and it will demonstrate your trust in His promise.
Luke 12:31-34, NLT
Six Promises That Will Transform Your Pace With a Sense of Urgency
1. The Promise of Fruitfulness
What does it mean to abide in Jesus? It might help to think about abode, a related word, which describes the place where we live. Abiding in Jesus means living in His presence and following His guidance each day. As our vine, He is our source of sustenance and spiritual growth. If we remain close to Him, He will reward us with the power of the Holy Spirit to effect change in our own life and the lives of those around us. Knowing He could return at any time, there is no reason to wait. The time to access His transformational power is right now (Jude 21-23).
John 15:4-5
2. The Promise of Urgency
Behold is found thirty times in Revelation, and at least seven of these occurrences are connected to the Second Coming. Believers are reminded to serve the Lord while there is still time, and then He will return. This is both a promise and a call to action. Whatever work He has given us to do, we need to do it without delay. When the Lord comes for His own, He will come with the speed of lightning. As the “Bright and Morning Star,” He will dispel all darkness and usher in the perfect reign of the Millennium.
Revelation 22:12-13, 16
3. The Promise of the Rapture
When Jesus Christ returns, His arrival will be sudden and unexpected. Anyone who knows Him as their Savior will be raptured to heaven. Everyone else will experience the Tribulation. In the meantime, every Christian can share the Gospel “to the end of the earth” through the limitless power of the Holy Spirit. There is nothing holding you back! You have the courage, boldness, confidence, insight, ability, and authority to fulfill your mission. If you believe in Jesus Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit will fuel your ministry until Christ returns or calls you home.
Acts 1:7-8
4. The Promise of Answered Prayer
Jesus assures us that we will receive anything we ask for in prayer—if we ask according to God’s character and will. This promise is not a magical formula to fulfill our selfish desires. It is an extension of Jesus’ desire to introduce us to the Father, “that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13). As James teaches, Christians should learn to say, “If the Lord wills” (James 4:15). Because our Lord could return at any time, we have an urgent responsibility to claim this promise as we work to build His kingdom.
John 14:14
5. The Promise of Christ's Unexpected Return
Jesus promised to return, but we do not know when. If we knew the precise date, we might be tempted to neglect our work for Christ. Worse yet, we might choose to continue sinning and then turn to God just before the Lord’s return. Heaven is not our only goal; we have work to do here. And we have the privilege of continuing to do it until death or we see the unmistakable return of our Savior.
Matthew 24:35-44
6. The Promise of the End Times
The promised “day of the Lord” will begin with the Rapture and continue all the way through the Tribulation and the Millennium. This period of judgment will begin when we least expect it. The Rapture is the next event on God’s prophetic timeline, which means it could happen today. In light of this promise, Christian men and women have a responsibility to urgently lead others to Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-6
Six Promises That Will Transform Your Eternity
1. The Promise of Heaven
In election years, political candidates make all sorts of promises about our future. They assure us of our safety, our healthcare, our military, our national diplomacy, and more. Yet the only leader who has never broken a promise is the Lord Jesus Christ, and everyone who believes in Him is assured of a place in heaven. Our path to eternal life is secure—as secure as our trust in Jesus.
John 14:1-4
2. The Promise of Eternal Rewards
Consider the most powerful or well-known people in our world. How many got where they are today by being humble, self-effacing, and gentle? Not many! But in the life to come, the last will be first. It’s impossible to give up more for the kingdom than you will receive in return. Don’t forfeit eternal rewards for temporary benefits. Any personal sacrifices you make now will rebound in the blessing of God’s approval.
Matthew 19:29-30
3. The Promise of Eternal Security
Anyone who has ever purchased a defective product knows the term “lifetime warranty” usually means something different to manufacturers than it does to consumers. There are often exclusions for component parts, normal wear and tear, and failure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Yet Jesus offers us a better warranty than we could imagine. His eternal promise contains no loopholes or exclusions, and He willingly extends it to all who believe in Him.
John 6:35-40
4. The Promise of Belonging
Whoever acknowledges Jesus Christ on earth will be acknowledged by Him in heaven. To acknowledge Jesus means to identify with Him, as one of His followers, regardless of the possible consequences. Practically speaking, we do this when we (1) live Christ-honoring lives; (2) share our faith with others; (3) help others in need; (4) take a stand for justice; (5) love others; (6) acknowledge our loyalty to Christ; and (7) use our lives and resources to carry out His desires rather than our own. If we are faithful to acknowledge Him in this world, Jesus will welcome us as His own in the world to come.
Luke 12:8, NLT
5. The Promise of Eternal Protection
Just as a shepherd protects his sheep, Jesus protects His people from eternal harm. While believers can expect to suffer on earth, Satan cannot touch our soul or take away our eternal life with God. The world is filled with turmoil because it is the devil’s domain, but followers of Jesus have everlasting safety.
John 10:27-29
6. The Promise of God's Blessing
Jesus described eight characteristics, known as the Beatitudes, that reveal unexpected blessings from God. They shatter the misconception that God’s blessing results in an easy, prosperous life. In fact, they help us to understand that we can experience hope and joy regardless of our circumstances. Although the Beatitudes run contrary to our ideas of happiness, they define an inner joy that will be experienced by everyone who follows Jesus.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:3-12
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