Claiming God's Promises for Yourself

By Luis Palau, Christian Post Guest Columnist Tuesday, January 06, 2009

As you have read and studied, memorized and meditated on various passages in the Bible, what sections have seemed the most difficult to believe?

Prophecy? Narrative portions? Doctrinal passages? Or God's promises?

Many Christians have the most problem believing the promises of God. Oh, they sound nice, and sometimes they even cheer us up. But we wonder, Are they really true? Unconsciously, at least, we question whether or not God keeps His promises.

D.L. Moody confidently stated, "God never made a promise that was too good to be true." Think about that!

In the Old Testament we read, "Not one of all the Lord's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled" (Joshua 21:45; compare 23:14, 15). Solomon later declared, "Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses" (1 Kings 8:56).

None of God's promises have ever failed! The only absolutes we can proclaim are those found in God's Word. The Bible testifies of things beyond what man knows or can learn apart from God's revelation.

God has gone on record many times throughout His authoritative Word and has given us - His pilgrims passing through this world - very great and precious promises" (2 Peter 1:4).

Some of His promises were made specifically to an individual (Joshua 14:9), a group (Deuteronomy 15:18), or a nation (Haggai 1:13). We must be careful not to claim haphazardly promises intended for someone else! Many Old Testament promises, thankfully, are repeated in the New Testament and are ours to claim today. God promised Joshua, "I will never leave you or forsake you" (Joshua 1:5). In Hebrews 13:5 God transfers that promise to us as Christians.

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 memorization), 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."

God has promised to meet our every need. But we must ask for His provision. Christ says, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7). Any of God's promises that we can claim in Jesus' name are guaranteed and will be performed for us by God for His glory (John 14:13, 14; 2 Corinthians 1:20).

What is the need of your heart today? The Lord has promised to meet that need! Simply take Him at His Word.