“Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses” (1 Kings 8:56).
Heavenly Father, with gratitude in our hearts we come to Your Throne of Grace, before the Mercy Seat, confident that You will listen to what we have to say, and in love, will graciously grant us the desires of our hearts, in accordance with Your perfect will. For this we give You thanks in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
We are continuing to build upon the premise that all of of God’s promises are trustworthy. This is a topic that cannot be exhausted. Every time one of God’s promises is fulfilled it leaves us desirous of experiencing more of His wonders in our life. And so, there is always another testimony shared, and someone’s faith boosted, someone else is inspired to ask, another prayer is answered, and the cycle goes on, endlessly.
This is not difficult to understand when we read promises like this one,
“For all the promises of God in Him (Jesus) are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us” (2 Corinthians 1:20).
This is a confirmation of our key text. The fulfillment of God’s promises are guaranteed, in Jesus Christ. Paul said it this way, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things” (Romans 8:32, emphasis supplied)?
I am aware that at first glance, there are many people who could challenge all that I have said so far, by telling me of promises that they have claimed and never received an answer.
Let me share two passages of Scripture:
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11, emphasis supplied).
“Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24, emphasis supplied).
If God says that He will do something, He will. So let us look at how you are claiming those promises?
He promises that He will not hold back any thing that is good (in accordance with His will), from those who walk uprightly . The fact that you are praying to God and claiming His promises, I believe, is because you are perhaps, in some kind of a relationship with God; if that is the case, then the promise is for you. Are you sure that what you are asking for is good for you? You may not know, but God does! Perhaps a safer way to end our prayers might be, not my will Lord, but Your will be done!
Asking “in Jesus’ name,” is not just saying the words at the end of our prayers. It is much more than that. It means, I believe, that whatever you are praying for, will bring glory to His name. The psalmist David said, “He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3, emphasis supplied).
God not only hears our prayers, but He wants to answer them, that our “joy may be full.” So let us ask Him to teach us how to pray in accordance with His will!