Prayer and Promises

This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the word of God, which also works effectively in you who believe. — 1 Thessalonians 2:13, CSB 

The cares of life will try us; but we let them disturb our confidence in God, and then we wonder why we have not more comfort, and more peace and hope and joy. Oh, I wish we could see these things as they are, and be sensible Christians! If we do not have ecstatic feelings, we begin to doubt whether we are Christians or not, when we should not look at our feelings, but at God’s word; for there is our assurance. We must bring our hearts into a right position. We must put away all sin, all pride, all impatience, all envy and evil thoughts, all jealousies, and then, while working out our own salvation, God will work in us to will and to do of his good pleasure. 

We must hold fast the promises. These are the pledged words of Him who is truth and verity; and these are our assurances. They can be appropriated to ourselves only by individual faith. Learning their truth by our loving trust, we must learn, not that man never is, but that we always are blessed. How many blessings we lose because we slight and overlook the blessings we daily receive, yearning for that which we have not… God loves the thankful heart, trusting implicitly in his words of promise, gathering comfort and hope and peace from them. 

Our work is to lay hold upon the promises of God. Rely upon them. Live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God… Faith in God’s promises must be exercised while we work out our salvation with fear and trembling, God working in us to will and to do of his own good pleasure. We must be constantly guarded, for we are on the battle-field against a wily foe. We have a heaven to win; a possession to gain that requires the vigilant exercise of every spiritual muscle. Half-hearted work will not do here. God will accept nothing short of whole-hearted service. 

The Lord would have us look up, and be grateful to him that there is a heaven; that Jesus is preparing mansions for us, where the weary will be at rest. Let us praise God from whom all blessing flow. Let us grasp by living faith the rich promises of God, and be thankful from morning till night. 

— The Review and Herald, April 12, 1887

O Lord, I come before You seeking to bring my heart into a right position by putting away all my sins and laying hold upon Your promises. I look away from myself and up to You. I exercise my faith and will rely on Your promises in order to live by Your every word. I trust in Your word, it gives me comfort and peace and hope. My praises ascend to You from whom all blessings flow!