Take God At His Word

A devotional by Buddy Owens, teaching pastor at Saddleback Church.

“I am convinced that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it through to completion” (Philippians 1:6 GWT).

Lasting change doesn’t start with you. It starts with God. And it all begins when you say, “Yes Lord, I’m taking you at your word.” God isn’t asking you to make a promise that you can’t keep. He is asking you to receive a promise that only he can keep.

When you confess your faith, you are receiving God’s promises into your life, and he always keeps his promises. When you confess your faith, you are taking God at his Word, and you can!

• He loves you – you have his Word on it (John 3:16).
• You are forgiven – you have his Word on it (Psalm 103:3).
• You belong to him – you have his Word on it (Romans 1:6).
• He will never leave you or give up on you – you have his Word on it (Hebrews 13:5).
• He will meet your needs – you have his Word on it (Philippians 4:19).
• He has a plan and a purpose for your life – you have his Word on it (Jeremiah 29:11).

As you build your life on the Word of God, he will truly make you into a new person – a total makeover from the inside out. And what God starts, he will finish.

Your responsibility is to confess it. Let it renovate your life. “Be made new in the attitude of your minds.” But let me warn you: expect to be challenged. The Devil doesn’t want you to be free, so he will whisper old lies to you. He’ll try to discourage you and accuse you. He will bring up your past to haunt and harass you. But, as Greg Laurie says, “Whenever the Devil tries to remind you of your past, remind him of his future.” And start confessing your faith.

What lies do you still believe? What is keeping you from walking in the freedom and joy of the Lord? Start declaring the truth of the God’s Word and then act on that truth.

And that will truly make a new you.