Promise

Hi and welcome back to another week on the Chrissie Murphy Designs blog. This week marks the start of Advent, and a change to the words we’ve been reflecting on. For the next four weeks we will continue to reflect on words I believe the Lord has given me, but they will be from a Christmas perspective. The first word we’re reflecting on is Promise. And I think Promise is an awesome word to begin with, because it’s where Christmas began…. with Jesus, as a promise.

The Promise of Jesus

Isaiah was a Hebrew prophet who was believed to have lived about 700 years before the birth of Jesus. In Isaiah 9:6 we can read about a promise that was given through him.

“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6

A promise of a child being born. One who is given to us, who will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. This promise came to fruition 700 years later in a stable in Bethlehem. He was a child of virgin birth (given to us) who is now called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.

A promise is a powerful thing

A promise is a powerful thing because it can revive the most disillusioned of hearts. It can also bring comfort to a heart that is troubled or grieved. I personally believe that anything that can change a heart is powerful, both good and bad. Just as much as a promise can revive and comfort, if the promise is broken and unfulfilled it can destroy and torment. Promises are incredibly powerful.

The reason promises contain so much power is because we hang our hopes in them. There’s a verse in Proverbs that says that a person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.

The reason promises contain so much power is because we hang our hopes in them. Click To Tweet

Many parts of Australia are in the grip of drought at the moment. We are experiencing a horrific bushfire season and our farmers are in dire need of rain to support their livestock and crops. These guys are looking to the sky and when there’s clouds forming they’re HOPING they bear rain. When it doesn’t rain, and the clouds blow away, they’re devastated.

Here’s the thing though, sometimes the promise is more than something we just hope in. Sometimes we actually rely on them. The situation can be that critical for some of us that the promise becomes a matter of life and death.

Are you a respecter of promises?

Are you someone who respects the power of a promise? Can you appreciate that they can be something people actually rely on? I’ve got to be honest and say that until I started deep diving this with the Lord, I had no real appreciation of their power. If I’ve broken a promise that I made you, if I’ve treated it flippantly or without the respect it should have been given, I sincerely apologise and I seek your forgiveness. I know better now.

In Genesis, we read of Joseph and Pharaoh. Joseph had been mourning the death of his father with his family. He was living in a foreign country, and before his Dad passed, his Dad made him promise to take his remains back to their homeland for burial.

Joseph shared this with Pharoah, asking him for permission to leave to take his Dad’s remains home. In Genesis 50:6 “Pharaoh agreed to Joseph’s request. “Go and bury your father, as he made you promise,” he said.” Pharoah was a respecter of promises. In this scenario he respected how important this promise was to Joseph and he made a way for Joseph to be able to fulfil it.

Being a respecter means making a way

When we grasp the full gravity of promises, we will make a way for them to be fulfilled. When we understand what others are hoping or relying on in them, we will make a way for them to be fulfilled. Jesus coming at Christmas was fulfilment of hope and something to rely on. God made a way for it to happen.

The verse at the heart of my blog says that “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain”. That hope came at Christmas, He’s the promise fulfilled that I anchor my soul to.

And it’s a promise He’s made to you as well. This same promise, having somewhere to anchor your soul that’s firm and secure, is for you just as much as me. Life throws all sorts of things at us, it’s never easy, but amid all of it, I have this hope where I’ve anchored my soul. If you don’t have this, will you make a way for Him to fulfil this promise in your own life?

I’m a respecter and I’ll help to make a way

Friend, I’m converted! I’m a respecter of promises! The Lord has given me revelation on how critical they can be. So the promises He’s making you, I want to help make a way for them to be fulfilled in your life. Let me know the promises you’re hoping in or relying on and I will pray for you and with you to see them fulfilled. Leave me a comment or send me a private message (you can contact me here) and let me know what’s on your heart.

Sometimes art resonates

Sometimes art resonates. Remember I shared about Resonate a little while ago… its when something resounds within you. If this blog post or piece of art resonates with you, leave me a comment and tell me how.

This one of a kind original piece of art is actually available to purchase. If it resonates with you, contact me and I’ll let you know how it can be yours.

Until next time, remember you have a hope, you have somewhere to anchor your soul.

Bless you my friend

Chrissie xx