Anita J.
One of my favorite Bible promises is:
“Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.’”
Genesis 28:15
Bible Promise Impact on Me
On March 18, 2003, I was to leave on my first mission trip to Kenya, which was also the very day of the beginning of the USA-Iraq war. Some friends and family questioned me and asked, “Why are you going? Aren’t you paying attention? Can’t you see what is going on?”
I unplugged the phone (I could in those days). The TV news was turned off too. Then I asked God to have a little talk with me about the plans He had for me. Should I go? Or should I stay home? I prayed to God to speak to me through His Word about this trial specifically.
I sat down in my chair and opened my Bible in faith to the place where I had finished studying the day before. I started with Genesis 28. When I got to verse 15, the God who surpasses all understanding spoke specifically to me: “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.’” Like Jacob, it seemed that the ground under my feet trembled because I knew I was on holy ground. On the trip that followed, a mission was born — a ministry adventure called Mara Vision Outreach. Almost 20 years later, the mission continues to grow and expand into other countries.
Praise God that when He spoke, I believed; I took it literally. I went forward in faith and didn’t look back. When I do reflect on God speaking to me that day, I praise the God from whom all blessings flow.
Debi T.
My favorite Bible promise is:
“Now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 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 43:1–2 ESV
Bible Promise Impact on Me
The Bible is clear that God has formed each one of us for a holy purpose, no matter the circumstance or the difficulty. In Jeremiah 1:5, we can see that God had a plan for Jeremiah before he was even conceived. That is true for each one of us. Ephesians 2:10 confirms, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (ESV).
While I still consider myself middle-aged, some would argue that I’m on the front end of “old.” Only in recent years have I been learning about God’s plan for my life. When I look back over the decades, I can see where God wanted to work some miracles in my life, but I shunned them to seek my own course. I was going to do it my way. While I still went to church, even singing in the choir, I did all of it on my terms.
Friday evening, November 2, 2000, I listened to a radio interview with a woman who had turned her life around by simply praying. I knew God was pulling at my heartstrings. I finally listened. Like Isaiah, I answered God’s query “Whom shall I send?” with, ”’Here I am! Send me’” (Isaiah 6:8 ESV).
In the more than twenty years since I have seen God work remarkably in many ways. Over the years, turmoil has flooded my life, but God was there to pull me up from drowning. I walked through refining fires (see Malachi 3:2), but I have not only not been scorched, but I have also had a measure of my pride stripped away in the process. (Believe me; I still have a long way to go on that one.)
Even on “the front end of old,” life for me seems to just be beginning. The journey, albeit still arduous, is more exciting than it has ever been. I am enthused about the future. My desire is to follow my Savior on the narrow path all the way through the heavenly gates.
Bible Promise Series. Every 2-3 weeks, different people, from around-the-world, will share Bible promises in a written and/or video format.
Unless noted otherwise, scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
