Prayer and Promises

The Promise

For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

— 2 Peter 1:4, NASB 

The Testimony

Jesus came to suffer in our behalf, that he might impart to us his righteousness. There is but one way of escape for us, and that is found only in becoming partakers of the divine nature. 

We are to be sanctified through the truth, but Jesus declares, “Thy word is truth.” We can be sanctified only through a knowledge of the word of God, and that word is to become a part of our life. God has given you a Bible, and when your will is submitted to God’s will, you will know what is truth…  Jesus draws us to himself through the agency of his divine Spirit; and through faith in his blood we are cleansed from sin. 

It is our privilege to have an experience more precious than gold. We are to come in living faith to Jesus. We need not be among those who have only a casual faith, who get no answers of peace when they pray. We may have a living experience in the things of God; but we must take time to pray. We must take time to search the Scriptures, digging for truth as for hidden treasures. When Jesus came to the world, Satan had obscured the truth under the rubbish of men’s opinions, and Jesus commanded his disciples to search the Scriptures, saying, “They are they which testify of me.” 

The Bible is the garden of God, and here we must learn to gather the roses and the lilies and the pinks of God’s promises. We must hang them as precious pictures upon the wall of memory, and have our eyes fixed upon the glorious things of God, so that we shall be able to go through the world and not dwell upon its corruptions, or be polluted by its wickedness. 

Fasten your faith to the eternal throne, and all the promises of God are at your command. When God gave his Son, he gave us all in that precious gift. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” How glad would our Lord be to see our faces lighted up with the light of his Holy Spirit. He wants us to have love and joy and peace. He says, “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Then let us talk of the power of Jesus; for help has been laid upon One that is mighty. 

— The Review and Herald, March 1, 1892 

The Response 

O my Father, I pray to be filled with Your divine nature instead of the pollutions of the world. I open Your word and fix my eyes on Your promises. Cleanse me from all sin, I submit my will to Your will. Fill me with Your Holy Spirt. I long for a living experience in the things of Christ and fasten my faith firmly on Your eternal throne so I may walk in Your light. Your love and joy and peace fills my heart with praise!