In the past few weeks, the Lord planted a sustaining
verse in my spirit.
From Psalm 119:50, “My comfort in my
suffering is this; Your promise preserves my life.”
It’s good to know the word translated as “preserves” in the NIV is in the original language, the word “chayah,” which the Strong’s Concordance says means “to live” or “to be alive.” It is used in the Old Testament in several ways including physical and spiritual revival as well as “restoration from the dead. The term can also imply thriving or flourishing, indicating a state of well-being and vitality.”
There are many nuances of “chayah” and here
are a few of the various meanings given through Old Testament scriptures:
preserve alive, give life, quicken, restore to life, cause to grow, revive in
God’s favor, quicken, restore to health, nourish, and there are several more,
but you get the picture. The word “chayah” has an all-encompassing meaning which
wraps in our body, souls, minds, and spirits.
So, when I read “Your promise preserves my
life,” I once more grasp the importance of God’s promises in his word. His promises
have the power to sustain us in every possible way. We can live on his promises,
breathe his promises, and as the lyrics of a song we are fond of singing at our
church say, we can stand on those promises. Those promises have the power to
restore what is broken, revive what is listless, grow what is wilting, nourish
what is hungry, and even to surge life into what is dead.
Depending on who’s counting, the number of
promises in the Bible range from 3,000 to 8,000. Here are ten randomly chosen
ones:
“I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews
13:5).
“…He who began a good work in you will
carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday,
today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make
us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (I Timothy 1:7).
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should
ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be
given to you” (James 1:5).
“He anointed us, set his seal of ownership
on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to
come” (2 Corinthians 1:22).
“I can do all this through him who gives
me strength” (Philippians 4:13).
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my
power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 10:9).
“He is before all things, and in him all
things hold together” (Colossians 1:17).
“And my God will meet all your needs
according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
And so many more. I pray that you, too
find God’s promises sustaining in your life, that they are posted around your
home, and written in your heart.
In these parts, we have counted on those
promises to carry us through difficult days in weeks past and continue to hold
on to them as we navigate the future.
Blessings and may his promises be yours.