We can’t participate in some promises in life without having them affect our life. That’s true whether we’re participating in the promise of fun from a theme park or the profound promise of marriage. We’re always affected by participating in promises–and even more so when we participate in the promises of God. Genesis 17:1-27 teaches us about the fruit of participating in the promises of God. These are the things every believer should look for in their lives.

When God made the world it was very good and filled with God’s blessings; blessings that many of us want. But Genesis 16:1-16 shows us what can happen when we try to bring about God’s blessings on our own. If we want to experience God’s blessings in our life and not shortchange them, then we’ll want to pay attention to what this chapter tells us.

Many people assume that the promises of God apply to them because they’re a good person by their own standards. On the other hand, many people who trust in God and hope in his promises still labor as if it’s up to them to see them fulfilled. Both perspectives show a misunderstanding about the way that God’s promises work in our life. Thankfully, Genesis 15:1-21 shows us how we can have God’s promises work in our life and understand the way his promises work.

How people face problems reveals something about them. But how people face victories reveals something about them as well. Genesis 14 provides us with valuable truths about the victories that God’s people face. If we want to experience victories in the spiritual life, these truths will help us get them and have the right attitude about winning them.

Some people have the belief that God’s people won’t face problems, but that’s not what we find in God’s word, even with those who are incredibly blessed by God. In Genesis 13:1-18, Abram helps us learn important truths about the problems that God’s people face. Knowing these truths can help us understand God’s purposes in our problems and navigate them more wisely.