I saw a news item on television over the weekend which set me thinking. From
what I gathered, an HIV infected woman had caught the attention of the Nigerian
president, probably in one of the HIV related events.
Anyway, it seemed that the woman needed financial assistance to start up a trade
in order to sustain her family. She had skills in dress making but did not have
needed equipment and facilities to start. She however continued to work hard on
whatever she could do with her very limited resources.
Somehow, her fortune changed the day she had the opportunity to meet the
president at the event. The meeting produced a promise from the President to
assist her to achieve her dream. According to her, she felt grateful for the
attention the President gave her but she did not entirely believe anything would
happen. She said, "I didn't believe he would fulfill his promise because we are
used to promises being made by politicians which are never fulfilled"
One day recently, the woman received unexpected visitors in her home from the
government. She was taken to a facility that had been leased for her. In it were
already installed sewing machines and other equipment. She could hardly contain
her emotions as she was taken around and shown everything that had been bought
for her to start off her business.
She was right about one thing; men are prone to failing in keeping promises.
When it comes to God however, once He gives you a promise, you can take it to
the bank. "God is not a man that He should tell or act a lie, neither the son of
man, that He should feel repentance or compunction [for what He has promised].
Has He said and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken and shall He not make it
good?" (Num 23:19)
The Nigerian President could have forgotten the promise he made to this woman
but God had reason to remind him and also give him the zeal to act on his
promise. Many politicians have given the same promise and they have remained
unfulfilled till this day.
What has God promised you? Be sure that He remembers! He will execute it at the
appropriate time. All you need to do is to patiently trust Him. I have promises
made by my father which remained unfulfilled till today, not because he forgot
but because he found himself in circumstances which made it impossible for him
to follow through with his word.
God not only remembers all He has promised you, He also is able to accomplish it
at the right time. Nothing can limit Him, nothing can make it impossible for Him
to follow through with His promises towards you.
When God wanted to assure Abraham of His promise, he elevated His word above His
name. God does not joke with His word! Once He has uttered it, you can be sure
that His word will not return empty without accomplishing the purpose for which
it was sent.
What promises are you holding unto today? Your parent's? Brother's? Pastor's?
They are men, they can fail you but when you hold on to God's word, you can be
sure that He will do what He says.
The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises,
according to some people's conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering
(extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but
that all should turn to repentance. (2Pe 3:9)
Steve Popoola is the editor of Biblepraise Newsletter and the webmaster of
Biblepraise Fellowship Online at
http://www.biblepraise.org . British by birth, He currently resides in
Lagos, Nigeria with wife Maris and their children; Praise, Stephanie and
Precious. He works in the IT department of a bank. Formerly an active singer, he
still sings occasionally and speaks at invited forums. He presently serves in
the Tapes/Books Ministry in his local church and is also a Sunday School
teacher. He is the Moderator/Editor of Biblepraise Newsletter. He can be reached
through His email address,
steve@biblepraise.org
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
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The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.