The Principle & The Promise

I’ve learned over the years that there is this pretty cool relationship, or better said, “partnership” that we have with God. I describe it as the Principle and the Promise. Permit me a moment to explain.

Throughout scripture we see verses like Isaiah 40:30-31 for example. God revealed to me that hidden within this verse and many others as we will see, our partnership with Him. There’s our part, which is applying the “principle” and there’s God’s part which is supplying the “promise.”

Let’s decode the verse and expose the interconnection:

“Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord (our part – The Principle of “waiting”) shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (God’s Part – The Promise or result of applying the principle)”

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God (The Principle). And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (The Promise)”
Philippians 4:6-7

I saved the best for last. The all-time great Principle-Promise partnership exchange:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16

Jumps out at you now, doesn’t it?