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)