Living by the Promises, Not Just Hearing Them
God’s promises are not meant to sit idle—they’re activated by faith.
Devotional Source Credit: Day by Day by Grace by Bob Hoekstra
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Today’s devotional from Bob Hoekstra draws a clear distinction between hearing the promises of God and actually living by them. Not everyone who hears the truth walks in the freedom it offers—because the promises of God are activated through faith. Faith isn’t a one-time doorway into the Christian life; it’s the hallway, the living room, the kitchen, and every step in between. Paul reminds us that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes, and in it, the righteousness of God is revealed—from faith to faith.
The gospel is not just good news; it’s living good news. And it comes wrapped in promise after promise: eternal life, spiritual freedom, divine guidance, an indwelling Counselor, a forever family. Yet these remain like unopened gifts to the one who only nods in agreement but never unwraps them by faith. The just shall live by faith—not merely be saved by it.
Faith is how we receive everything Christ has already accomplished. It’s the way we walk forward, moment by moment, in grace. We aren’t passive recipients but trusting participants—yielding vessels who let the Lord Jesus manifest His life in and through us.
So this devotional urges us to examine whether we’re simply admiring God’s promises from a distance, or actually walking in them—by grace, through faith. Are we enjoying the power of God’s gospel daily, or just revering it from afar? God’s promises were meant to be lived in, not just looked at.
Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
My child, I have filled your life with promises—each one flowing from My love, fulfilled in My Son, and made alive in you through My Spirit. These are not distant words written in a book, but living realities meant to be received, experienced, and walked out by faith. You were made righteous not by striving, but by trusting. That same faith that brought you into union with Me is the faith by which you now live.
The gospel that saved you is not a memory to revisit, but a river to dwell in—My power unto salvation not just for the beginning, but for every step of the journey. Every promise of Mine is yes in Christ. When you rest in Me, believing I am your life, My grace flows freely. You don’t need more promises—you need more trust in the One who made them and is faithful to perform them.
When you yield to Me moment by moment, I unveil My righteousness in you and through you. You don’t need to manufacture godliness; you only need to abide in Me and let Me be your sufficiency. As you believe, I build. As you trust, I guide. As you rest, I act. This is the life of faith—the only way the just truly live.
Scripture References: Romans 1:16–17; Acts 20:24; 1 John 2:25; Acts 15:11; Romans 10:13; Matthew 16:18; John 8:32; John 16:13; 2 Corinthians 1:20; Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:11; John 15:4–5; Hebrews 10:38; Colossians 2:6–7
Real-Life Analogy
It’s like owning a high-performance car that sits idle in the garage. The engine is capable of power, speed, and smooth handling, but if you never turn the key and drive it, you won’t experience any of that potential. It was designed to move—but only moves when you trust it enough to press the pedal.
In the same way, God's promises are not decorative—they’re functional. They’re designed to carry you, not just comfort you from afar. You don’t need to rev up your own strength or try harder to be faithful. Instead, you can quietly trust the indwelling Spirit of Christ to live His faithful life through you. For example, when anxiety creeps in and fear of the future clouds your thoughts, pause and yield. Say to Him, “Lord, I trust You to live in me right now as my peace and certainty. You have promised to guide me—I rely on You to be that guidance within me.”
This is living by faith: not efforting toward God’s promises, but resting in the God who promised—and who lives in you.
Prayer of Confidence
Father, I praise You for the eternal promises that have become mine in Christ. You’ve already given me everything for life and godliness. Thank You that the gospel is not only the way in—it’s the way on. I don’t have to guess or strive; I only need to believe and yield. You’ve promised to lead, and I trust that You are. You’ve promised freedom, and I trust that You are that freedom in me. Let me walk today with joy, not because of what I must do, but because of what You are doing as I rest in You. I live by faith—moment by moment, from promise to promise, from glory to glory.