Standing on the Promises of God!
One of the songs (hymns) chosen for our in—person worship service this past Sunday brought back some special memories from my childhood years. During my years in elementary school, I attended Sunday School and a separate Bible class each week. During the opening time of worship, the leaders would choose the first song and then ask for requests. My friends and I would compete with one another to request #161, Standing on the Promises of God. Now whenever I hear or sing that hymn, I recall how much we enjoyed singing it years ago. With today’s emphasis on contemporary songs, there are times when I miss singing a few of the rich hymns I learned as a child. (I greatly appreciate an appropriate blend of hymns and contemporary worship music. There are so many of both types of music that include poor or incorrect theology and we need to be very discerning about what we choose, and on both sides of this spectrum, there are plenty of musical tunes that make me plug my ears. But I also strongly believe that worship music, hymns, and choruses are very effective in drawing us closer to God.)
For this article, I did some research about Standing on the Promises and here’s what I found:
It was written by Russell Kelso Carter (1849-1928). Carter was an excellent student and a star athlete at a military academy, who went on to be a successful teacher and coach at that same school. He left teaching to become an ordained pastor, and eventually went to medical school. He spent the last of his professional years as a doctor. Carter was also a musician and songwriter.
Although Carter was serious about his Christian faith, it wasn’t until he experienced some heart problems that he began to understand the reality and power of God’s promises. At age 30, his health was in critical condition and the physicians could do no more for him. Carter turned to God for help and healing.
He knelt and made a promise that whether he would be healed, or not, his life was finally and forever, fully devoted to serving the Lord. It was from that moment that the written Word of God became alive to him. He began to stand upon the promises of healing, determining to trust in the Lord no matter what his physical condition, no matter how he felt. Over the course of the next several months his strength returned, and his heart was completely healed! Carter lived another healthy 49 years.
The words of this great hymn became his life story—his “theme song!”
As we face various uncertainties and move toward the Christmas season and the new year ahead, it might be helpful for us to make standing on God’s promises a “theme” for each of us to establish as well. So here are a few of God’s promises that just might be a source of help, hope, and holiness to strengthen our faith.
—1—(Proverbs 3:5—6) Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and don’t rely on your own understanding. Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your path clear (direct your path).
—2—(Psalm 23:4) Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
—3—(2 Corinthians 9:8—9) And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; as it is written, “He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, His righteousness endures forever.”
—4—(John 14:2—3) In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
—5—(John 8:12) Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
—6—(Romans 8:38—39) For I am convinced that “nothing in this entire world” will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
With prayer for God’s glory and praise for His grace …
And as always, with prayer for our ACEFC family, Pastor Greg