2 Peter 1:4 (NIV) “Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
Lamentations 3:21-24 (NIV) “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
Charles Spurgeon stated, “O man, I beseech you, do not treat God’s promises as if they were curiosities for a museum; but believe them and use them.” We appropriate God’s promises by learning them (through study and memorisation), by seeing our need for them (through meditation), and by giving God time to work them out in our daily experience (through application).”
J.I. Packer said, “God teaches the believer to value His promised gifts by making him wait for them, and compelling him to pray persistently for them, before He bestows them.”
Isaiah 62:6 (NLT) “Pray to the Lord day and night for the fulfilment of His promises. Take no rest, all you who pray. Give the Lord no rest…”
The Lord has given us promises and everything we need to fulfil our God-given purpose and potential on this earth. But these are not automatic; we must lay hold of them by faith.
The Bible says in Hebrews 6:12 (NKJV) “Do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
The reason why we don’t enjoy the rewards of God’s promises, is that we have a tendency to lose faith before we receive the answer.
John 15:7 (NKJV) If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”
1 John 5:14-15 (NIV) This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us–whatever we ask–we know that we have what we asked of Him.”
God’s Word is God’s will, so when we want to pray about something, turning to the Scriptures for guidance is the perfect place to start.
“None of God’s promises have ever failed!”
Abram had to claim his promise. – Genesis 13:17” Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee”
God has set before us all the land of promise, but we must, by faith, walk through the land and make it ours.