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God is not a man, that he should lie. He is not a human, that he should
change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he
ever promised and not carried it through?
- Numbers 23:19 NLT
I've read many times that the Bible contains over 7,000 promises from
God. Why did God go to such great lengths to record so many promises to His
people? I must confess that it disturbs me sometimes that so many
Christians have a "ho-hum" attitude toward God's promises. Next time you go
to a Christian book store, notice how many "Promise" books there are. Why
is that? Because a growing number of believers have discovered that praying
and standing on God's promises can work miracles. I mean that literally.
God's promises can give us hope in hopeless situations. Psalm 119:49-51 NLT
says: "Remember your promise to me, for it is my only hope. Your promise
revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles." If you are going through a
trial, meditating on faith-building promises can give you the strength and
hope you need to keep going when you would otherwise quit and give up.
Also, try praying promise-centered prayers instead of problem-centered
prayers, and I guarantee it will change your prayer life.
This doesn't mean that you can always pray a promise once or twice and
have it come to pass. That does happen sometimes, of course, depending on
the situation. But most of the time, we have to go through a period of
"standing" on a promise before the answer comes. Isaiah 62:6-7 NLT says: ".
. . I have posted watchmen on your walls; they will pray to the Lord day and
night for the fulfillment of his promises. Take no rest, all of you who
pray. Give the Lord no rest . . ." The principle God is revealing to us
here is that sometimes we have to persist in praying God's promises before
they are fulfilled. Many times, we give up praying before we receive an
answer. Luke 18:1 TLB says: "One day Jesus told his disciples a story to
illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must
keep praying until the answer comes." Remember that "delays are not
necessarily denials." The Bible teaches us that Jesus "carries out and
fulfills all of God's promises, no matter how many of them there are." (2
Corinthians 1:20 TLB) God is serious about His promises, and He honors
those who take them seriously. But don't just take my word for it. Start
getting serious about taking God at His Word, and discover for yourself that
"He is the God who keeps every promise"! (Psalm 146:6 TLB)
Prayer: Lord, I thank You for all Your "great and precious promises." Give me a
new awareness of the purpose of Your promises, and a growing appreciation
for them. Teach me how to meditate on faith-building promises, as well as
how to pray promise-centered prayers. Thank You, Lord, that You are
"faithful to all Your promises"! (Psalm 145:13 NIV)
- J. M. Farro
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