Morning Devotional
June 7, 2005
"Another Birthday" (Part 3) 
    by Don Emmitte

And since Abraham and Sarah were both very old, and Sarah was long past the age of having children, she laughed silently to herself. "How could a worn-out woman like me have a baby?" she thought. "And when my master--my husband--is also so old?" Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, `Can an old woman like me have a baby?' Is anything too hard for the LORD? About a year from now, just as I told you, I will return, and Sarah will have a son." (Genesis 18:11-14 NLT)

 

You recall the story. God promised Abraham and Sarah that they would have a son. Through the years they began to doubt more and more the promise of God. They even tried to “help” God along by having Abraham father a child with Sarah’s handmaid. After a time, three messengers, one of them I believe to be the preincarnate Christ, come to announce that the time for Sarah to bear a child was at hand. Our reading this morning is Sarah’s response to that announcement. She laughed at the impossibility of the suggestion. In response, the Lord simply says, “Is there anything too hard for me?” That gentle admonition brings me to the second step in recapturing joy in your life today. Renew your commitment!

 

There are many such stories that can be told today. The story of the birth of our grandchildren is such a story. Recounting it reminds me that God is still faithful today. Every time I hold them I KNOW God is faithful! How could I NOT renew my commitment to such a God? He heard my prayers for my children and grandchildren.

 

Perhaps you are saying that you cannot remember a time when God really proved himself to you. Then I would suggest that you recall his faithfulness to others and use that as a basis to claim that same power in your life. He has not withheld his promise and power from you. It is available to you now. Return to the moment of your salvation and recall the joy and release you felt. Renew that commitment in your life. Amazingly, that act in itself will prompt your memory to other moments of God’s power acting in your life. Someone has said that you cannot break God’s promises by leaning on them! Here are a few you might find encouraging:

 

§         God’s presence— “I will never leave thee” (Hebrews 13:5)

§         God’s protection—”I am thy shield” (Genesis 15:1)

§         God’s power—”I will strengthen thee” (Isaiah 41:10)

§         God’s provision—”I will help thee” (Isaiah 41:10)

§         God’s rest—”Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28)

§         God’s goodness— “No good thing will He withhold from them that work uprightly” (Psalm 84:11)

§         God’s faithfulness—”The Lord will not forsake His people for His great name’s sake” (1 Samuel 12:22)

§         God’s wise plan—”All things work together for good to them that love God” (Romans 8:28)

 

Those are just some of your promises. Claim them today with a renewal of your commitment.