Many Christians are all fired up when they hear about the promises God made throughout the Bible, but as soon as trials arise in their lives, they are quick to forget all about the promises, and focus on the trial instead.  They forget one comment the Lord Jesus made:

Mar 4:14  The sower soweth the word.
Mar 4:15  And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
Mar 4:16  And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
Mar 4:17  And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
Mar 4:18  And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
Mar 4:19  And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
Mar 4:20  And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

You know, Jesus said affliction or persecution arises in our lives FOR THE WORD’S SAKE!  That means if you’re a disciple of Christ Jesus, you WILL be harassed by the devil just because of the Word of God you have in you.  And actually, we could look at that as a compliment that the devil recognizes us a God’s children, but few look at it that way when they are being tested.
Having “no root in themselves” means they also have no root in the promises of God. They have no root in the faithfulness of God.   While nobody likes being tested, God allows testing of our faith so we may see two things:  (1) where we are in our trust of God, and (2) the faithfulness of God to His Word.

Since we know God cannot lie, half of the problem is already solved, in that if God said such-and-such, then that’s the way it’s going to be, period.  Many however, fail to recognize that God’s promises are conditional, meaning if we do such-and-such, then God will do His part.  And we are quick to say God didn’t keep His word if we don’t see the promise materialize, not accepting the responsibility that we may not have done OUR part.

We might say “I believed, but God didn’t do it…”, but that is only valid if we did OUR part that God put as a condition.  And of course, when we refer back to “God cannot lie”, then obviously the problem is back on OUR part again for neglecting to fulfill our part.  “BELIEVE” carries the responsibility of ACTING on that belief, not just passively “having faith”.  For example; let’s say you are sick and you read the promise in Psalm 103:2-3,
Psa 103:2  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Psa 103:3  Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Ok then, the Word says right there that God forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, so if you BELIEVE that, then corresponding action is required, so why are you still laying around in your sick bed?  Why don’t you get up and give God glory for healing you, and go about your business?  “Well, I’m waiting on God to fulfill that promise….”  No you’re not, God is waiting for YOU to back up your faith with ACTION.  It’s high time we stopped suggesting God is not keeping His promises, and take a look at ourselves instead.  The problem is NEVER on God’s end, so it has to be on ours.

I know people don’t like hearing stuff like that but I’m helping you here!  God intensely WANTS us to reap the benefits of His Word, but, and I say BUT, there are always conditions to every promise.  We cannot be saved unless we BELIEVE.  The Lord Jesus did EVERYTHING necessary to make salvation available to us, but He won’t save anyone against their will, you have to CHOOSE to receive Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior, it will not just fall upon you like rain out of the sky.

GOD CHANGES NOT: and that is really good news if I ever heard it, that means there is one constant available to us in this ever-changing world, one anchor that never slips nor fails, a solid rock we can stand upon in the midst of the storm that cannot be washed away by the powers of darkness.  How is it the people of the Old Testament thousands of years ago were able to recognize the faithfulness of God, and we, who are supposedly so “enlightened” today, cannot?  Here’s an example from the Book of Daniel:

Dan 3:10  Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
Dan 3:11  And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
Dan 3:12  There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Dan 3:13  Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.

Dan 3:14  Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
Dan 3:15  Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
Dan 3:16  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
Dan 3:17  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
Dan 3:18  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Dan 3:19  Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
Dan 3:20  And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
Dan 3:21  Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Dan 3:22  Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Dan 3:23  And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Dan 3:24  Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
Dan 3:25  He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

Dan 3:26  Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
Dan 3:27  And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
Dan 3:28  Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
Dan 3:29  Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
Dan 3:30  Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.

Could Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego have perished in the fiery furnace?  Yes, and they acknowledged that fact that God COULD save them if He chose to, but regardless of whether He chose to or not, THEY WOULD NOT WORSHIP THE IDOL, period.  Now THAT, my friend, is faith with corresponding action.  Would YOU step up to the plate with faith like that?  You would if you truly believed the promises of God.  They did, and do you know what?  God promoted those faithful men.  Yes, they went THROUGH the fire instead of being delivered FROM going into the fiery furnace.  We don’t like going through ANYTHING except good times and blessings. God MUST test our faith to see what we are made of, and only trials bring forth that gold that is fit for something beautiful, and the dross that we collect from just living on the earth must be burned OFF from time to time.

True joy is knowing that God never changes.  It’s like target shooting: it’s much easier to hit a target that never moves, than it is to hit one that is constantly darting around unpredictably, never holding still.  God never changes.  He doesn’t change according to the whims of society.  Though what might have been right last year may be wrong next year in man’s eyes, God remains true and faithful to His Worde, and never changes from age to age.  His promises are Yea and Amen to those who believe and act accordingly.

So the next time you’re “remembering the promises”, also remember you may be called upon to prove to God you trust Him no matter what.  Those that OVERCOME will have their reward according to Revelation 21:7. And those that don’t? See the next verse.  Tell you what: just be an overcomer and you won’t have to worry about it. God is always good for His part of the promise, you be good for YOURS!  And like it says in Psalm 91,
Psa 91:5  Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
Psa 91:6  Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
Psa 91:7  A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

REMEMBER THE PROMISES!