“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” 2 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV)
God’s promises were not for yesteryear, but for us right now! As we pray, knowing these promises become fuel for our crying out to God! Promises are like buried treasures, they need to be searched for until found. The promises God has made are not like man’s promises. God is not like men who lie (Number 23:19), or are unable to fulfill what they promise. If you dig through the scriptures and take hold of these promises, you can begin to cry out for God to fulfill them. By the way, though God hasn’t forgotten what He has promised, usually they are buried until we ask for them. Jesus Himself said “until now you’ve asked for nothing…” (John 16:24). Ask and keep asking!!! God establishes watchmen to remind Him (Isaiah 62:6-7), so don’t be bashful in using His promises to remind Him what He has said. Our faith can release His promises!
Here are some promises…
God promises that if you raise up a child in the way he should go he will not depart from it when he gets older (Proverbs 22:6). Btw, it says nothing about how old. Likewise, God promises to bless those who love Him, to the thousandth generation… (Exodus 20:6). He promises to rescue the children of warriors (Isaiah 49:25). So, no matter what your children are looking like right now, cry out for God to faithfully fulfill His promises regarding them!
God repeatedly says that He will never leave you or abandon you (Joshua 1:5, Hebrews 13:5, Deuteronomy 31:6-8). Jesus Himself said that He will always be with us, even till the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). In other words, you are never alone, even when you might feel that way right now! Declare this promise. Proclaim it, speak it out! You are not alone and He is not done!
He promises that you are more than a conqueror, overwhelmingly victorious in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:37). So, even if you don’t see it, or feel victory at the moment, declare it is true. And stand in that place of victory in your mind until victory happens around you!
He promises to fill you with perfect peace if you will just fix your heart and thoughts on Him (Isaiah 26:3, Philippians 4:6-9). If you lack this peace right now, it is yours to take hold of. Begin meditating and declaring these verses over your life. His peace is not a myth or something unattainable. It is meant to be something you wear (i.e. shoes of peace – Ephesians 6:15) so that the world can see it!
He promises an abundant, satisfying and full life (John 10:10). It is not His desire for His kids to live with a poverty mindset. Cry out for Him to meet all your needs and more. He promises to satisfy you with good things and restore your youthfulness (Psalm 103:5). Declare that He is absolutely good, and that He will grant you youthful strength and restore every place that the enemy has come to kill, steal and/or destroy in your life (John 10:10).
He promises to forgive ALL your sin (Psalm 103:3, 1John 1:9). The enemy is a liar and wants us to stay in condemnation and shame. But God says there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). If you feel condemnation and shame, after confessing your sin, declare the enemy is a liar, and that you have been forgiven, and your sins are as far from God as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). Keep declaring it until the lying serpent flees. Btw, that is what it means to resist the devil (James 4:7). You resist and keep resisting as you stand on the truth of God’s word.
He promises to heal you of ALL your diseases (Psalm 103:3). Proclaim this promise of healing of all your diseases, and don’t back down. Again, this is where we stand firm and resist the lies, accusations of the evil one. The enemy wants you to believe that you don’t have enough faith, or there is a deep secret sin in you that is keeping the healing away. Just keep proclaiming, putting your trust in Jesus and not in what things look like or feel.
He promises to deliver you from all demonic oppression (Psalm 103:4). The psalmist literally says He delivers you from the pit of hell. Jesus said that the gates of hell have no hold over you (Matthew 16:18). You will overcome the devil by the word of your testimony about Jesus and His blood (Revelation 11:12). Stand on the truth of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. He defeated every evil spirit and made a public spectacle of them through His death on the cross (Colossians 2:13-15). He has equipped you with the armor necessary to battle against these demonic foes (Ephesians 6:10-18).
Please understand that in all these promises He never said how, when or where He will fulfill them. It is never in our timing or in the way we would expect. Our role is to ask and keep asking, seek and keep seeking, knock and keep knocking, and believe and just keep believing even when it looks dead and impossible! Obey Him as He leads you on the trek to find these treasures, these great and precious promises! And remember, “The Lord is faithful in all His promises and loving toward all He made” (Psalm 145:13).
