I was praying one of God's promises back to Him - as He taught me to do years ago - when I heard my thoughts say, "No, remember that so-and-so prayed that Scripture a while back, and it didn't work for them." I could sense an instant frown coming across my face until I heard the Holy Spirit say to my spirit, "Never judge the Word of God or His promises by someone's experience. Instead, always judge the Lord faithful to His Word."

That's when I remembered Hebrews 11:11 (NKJV): "By faith, Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised." Think about that for a moment. Sarah received a miracle from God because she judged Him faithful to His promises. Likewise, when you and I judge God faithful, even when someone else - or even we ourselves - failed to receive the answer to our prayers in the past, we open the door for the Lord to move mightily on our behalf.

We can't know why someone else supposedly claimed God's promises, and didn't get the results they had hoped for. We can't even know why that happens to us sometimes. What we must do is judge God faithful to His Word at all times, because when we do that, our percentage of answered prayer climbs ever higher, and we grow closer to the Lord and His purposes for us. I have seen it in my own life, and in the lives of other believers who refused to doubt God.

Recently, I heard a godly man say that we should never build our faith upon our experiences or circumstances. Our faith must be built upon God's eternal Word and promises. When I am having a difficult day for some reason, the Holy Spirit often directs me to meditate on Hebrews 10:23 (NIV), and I go about my business saying over and over, "He who promised is faithful." This always causes faith, joy, and peace to spring up on the inside of me, and it greatly brightens my day.

Today, I encourage you to put aside your doubts and fears, and judge the Lord faithful to His promises every time - knowing that He is a Rewarder to those who put their faith in Him! (Hebrews 11:6)

Prayer: Lord, please help me to never base my faith on my experiences or circumstances, but only upon Your eternal Word and promises. Help me to memorize and meditate on the Scriptures that You want me to keep in my heart and in my mouth. Thank You that as I judge You faithful, I will see You moving mightily in every area of my life!