The challenges of life can be overwhelming. Often, we see no way out. In the face of heartbreak and disappointment, what do we do?
We need to look up beyond our situation to the One from whom our help comes. We need to search the Scriptures, find promises that relate to our situation, and start praying them, trusting God to bring them to pass in our lives. We need to learn how to pray God’s promises.
In order to see the fulfillment of God’s promises, we need to first believe that these promises are specifically for us. God wants to fulfill his promises for our lives. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have a part to play in their fulfillment: we need to believe his promises and claim them.
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God (2 Corinthians 1:20).
There are many examples in Scripture of how God made — and fulfilled — his promises to his people. Here are just a few.
Abraham
God promised to give Abraham a son through his wife Sarah even though both of them had passed child-bearing age. It looked impossible, but Abraham chose to believe God; and when he was 100-years-old, his son Isaac was born!
Solomon
When Solomon became the king, he asked for wisdom. The Bible says that God gave Solomon a “breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.”
The Israelites
When they cried out to God to give them rest, he did. In fact, all of the promises God made to the Israelites through Moses were fulfilled.
David
God made a covenant with David to protect his family. And because of that promise, his house was spared from destruction.
Mary
The Lord sent the angel Gabriel to the virgin Mary to tell her that she would conceive and give birth to a son. Even though this was against the laws of nature, she chose to believe the word of the Lord, and it happened exactly as announced!
The Bible tells us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. If he made promises in the past and fulfilled them, then he will do the same today. He hasn’t changed.
Why should we rely on his promises?
- He cannot lie: ...in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time(Titus 1:2); God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill (Numbers 23:19)?
- He is faithful: Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23).
- He is able to bring it to pass: ...being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised (Romans 4:21).
What’s our part?
We need to believe and trust God, who has made the promise. It might take a while for God to fulfill his promise; that means we have to persevere when things don’t happen as quickly as we would like. But that’s where patience comes in. We can’t just sit around and wait; we need to actively hold on to the promises of God, declaring them by faith, regardless of the situation or challenge we are going through.
There are promises that cover whatever area of challenge you may currently be facing. Do you need healing? Wisdom? The ability to pay the bills? Whatever it is, you can pray one of God’s promises that relates to your issue, and hold on to it.
5 Steps to Pray God’s Promises
1. Search the Bible to find God’s promises and thank him for each promise.
“At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws” (Psalm 119:62).
Some of the promises you can believe God for are healing, provision, protection, salvation, and his unfailing love.
2. Meditate on God's promises.
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful (Joshua 1:8).
To meditate means to think deeply and carefully about something for a period of time. Focus your mind on the promise that you are trusting God for, and think about how great a God you serve!
3. Personalize God's promises.
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law (Deuteronomy 29:29).
Personalizing God’s promises simply means to make the promises yours. For example, if you are believing God for healing, use a verse like Isaiah 53:5 to shape your prayer: He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
4. Speak God's promises daily in faith.
It is written: “I believed; therefore, I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak (2 Corinthians 4:13).
Our words are like seeds. What we speak determines what we eventually see as harvest.
5. Exercise patience.
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back (Hebrews 10:36-39).
Why do we need to have patience? Because it might take some time for these promises to be accomplished. In fact, some of them might only be fully answered in eternity. Regardless of what your situation looks like today, remember that God is faithful, and he has promised to never leave or forsake you.
What are you trusting God for today? We would love to journey with you in faith toward your best possible future! Just use the “Connect” tab below and you’ll soon get an email from a confidential and free mentor who will encourage you and pray with you.