The last time I wrote, I spoke about “Cherishing God’s Word.” I ended the letter with Russel Carter’s well-known hymn Standing on the Promises of God. Ever since then, I cannot stop thinking about this rich, deep, theologically sound worship song. I have been waking up with this song on my heart and in my mind. So I would like to share these words with you to meditate on and then share some of my thoughts:

1) Standing on the promises of Christ, my King! Through eternal ages let His praises ring.

“Glory in the highest!” I will shout and sing, standing on the promises of God.

Standing, standing, standing on the promises of God, my Savior;

standing, standing, I’m standing on the promises of God.

2) Standing on the promises that cannot fail!

When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, by the living Word of God I shall prevail, standing on the promises of God.

3) Standing on the promises, I now can see perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;

Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free, standing on the promises of God.

4) Standing on the promises of Christ, the Lord, bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,

Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s Sword, standing on the promises of God.

5) Standing on the promises I cannot fall, listening every moment to the Spirit’s call,

Resting in my Savior as my all in all, standing on the promises of God.

Are not these words food for the soul, fresh wind in your sails, and marching orders for the day! Several sources state, “Its march-like rhythm and repeated refrain reflect Carter’s disciplined background and the revival atmosphere of the time. Many accounts link the hymn to Carter’s own experience of a serious heart condition in his 30s, when doctors said there was no cure. He prayed for healing, committed himself to God’s service, and later credited his recovery to God’s power. This personal testimony shaped the hymn’s call to lean fully on God’s promises.”

This hymn is not about presumptuous faith, but about confident trust in God’s promises, as seen in Scripture (2 Corinthians 1:20). The central theme of this hymn is built around one central truth: all of God’s promises are absolutely trustworthy! To “stand” means “to be fixed upon, to remain true to, & to trust in God’s promises,” no matter the challenges or circumstances we may face in life.

Presumptuous faith is believing you are acting in faith, but in reality, you are trusting your own desires, taking unnecessary risks, or demanding that God act outside of His revealed will. Where genuine faith relies on specific promises and commands, presumption relies on assumption or self-will. The foundation of genuine faith is built on a clear word, promise, or instruction from God. Presumption is expecting a result God has never promised. Faith leads to obedience. Presumption often involves doing what you want while expecting God’s blessing, or intentionally stepping into danger and expecting God to rescue you. Faith pairs trust with wisdom, stewardship, and common sense (praying for health while still taking proper precautions). Presumption uses “faith” as an excuse for carelessness or laziness.

In conclusion, genuine faith always leads to obedience while presumption leads to disappointment. As we stand on God’s promises, they will strengthen, stabilize, and give the believer Spirit-empowered endurance to endure to the end. May we be fixed upon God’s word, remain true to what He has said, and trust God’s character, especially when life feels uncertain. Paul’s warning to the Ephesians stands true for us today as it did then, “not to be tossed to and fro and carried away by every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:14). Jesus said, “Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matt. 7:24) so when the storms and trials of life come we will still be standing on the solid foundation of God’s promises. Let us stick to what God has spoken and promised in Scripture because He is faithful. Not in our strength, our feelings, our own understanding, but in the unchanging promises of God! May our hearts echo Mr. Carter’s hymn “Standing on the promises I cannot fall…resting in my Savior as my all in all.”

May God bless you richly,

Heath