404. Importance of Personal Promise from God

This year’s New Year’s Eve (NYE) service was special to me. The main reason is that the last two years have been personally very challenging to me, and it allowed me to look back and appreciate the trace of God’s help deeply.

I was filled with gratitude as we viewed the recap video of last year’s ministry. Many meaningful events happened with good outcomes, and many people made the next steps. I was reminded of the faithfulness of our leaders. Even through my challenges, God faithfully fulfilled his work through us. Sharing thankfulness with my wife was also meaningful. I realized that thinking about what we are thankful for and confessing it are two different things. Speaking it amplifies its power in cultivating and amplifying gratitude within.

This year, the media team prepared a promise verse for the year, and I felt the burden of talking about the nature of God’s promise and how we are to live in response. I heard feedback that the message helped them to approach picking promise verse differently, instead of treating it like opening a fortune cookie. Already, a few members have shared that their promise verse fits perfectly their life situation and gives them hope for the new year.

In our last house church meeting, I asked members to share their hopes and dreams for the new year. I shared what was prompted in my heart, which was the “year of harvest.” The promise verse I picked on NYE service was “those who sow generously will reap generously” from 2 Corinthians 9:6. The word “reap” is undeniably connected with “harvest”. I was in awe. I felt like God was saying, “Caleb, I know your hopes and dreams. And I can do exceedingly more than you can ask or think.”

Based on the promise I received, I am anticipating many of my prayers will be answered this year, and I am confident that I will witness the abundance of fruit in my personal life and ministry. This is not a wish but a declaration of faith in what I sense God has spoken and that his freshly spoken word will be the answer to every area of lack in my life. Part of me is hesitant to say it because it might not happen, but I am reminding myself again that faith “is” the reality of what is hoped for. (Heb 11:1) And the personal promise of God we hold on to is how we experience the faithfulness of God “personally.”