Some amazing promises are found in the Bible. One of the most famous is in the Old Testament book of Jeremiah.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11).
Do you know how to claim the promises of God?
Sometimes, we read passages in the Old and New Testaments that lift us, encourage us, and inspire us. We want these passages to be true for us.
But we wonder, "Is this passage for me? If I follow the guidelines of proper Biblical hermeneutics, am I allowed to think of that passage, that encouragement as being for me?"
Many years ago as a young Bible student, I learned that "a text out of context is a proof text." It's true. We must interpret scripture by thinking about the people to whom it was originally written and the reason for which it was originally written. We dare not twist a text out of its context and make it apply in ways that God never intended.
Yet II Corinthians 1:20 says, "All the promises are 'yes' in [Christ Jesus]." Because of the death of Jesus on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and because of His resurrection, we who repent and believe have been made beloved children of God. God the Father has made promises to His people. In Christ, we now share in the promises that God has made to His family. It's in this sense that all the promises are "yes" in Christ for us.
So, how do we correctly claim the promises of God like the one in Jeremiah 29:11?
We plant the promises of God through prayer.
So, practically speaking, how do we do this? How exactly are we to pray?
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11).
Do you know how to claim the promises of God?
Sometimes, we read passages in the Old and New Testaments that lift us, encourage us, and inspire us. We want these passages to be true for us.
But we wonder, "Is this passage for me? If I follow the guidelines of proper Biblical hermeneutics, am I allowed to think of that passage, that encouragement as being for me?"
Many years ago as a young Bible student, I learned that "a text out of context is a proof text." It's true. We must interpret scripture by thinking about the people to whom it was originally written and the reason for which it was originally written. We dare not twist a text out of its context and make it apply in ways that God never intended.
Yet II Corinthians 1:20 says, "All the promises are 'yes' in [Christ Jesus]." Because of the death of Jesus on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and because of His resurrection, we who repent and believe have been made beloved children of God. God the Father has made promises to His people. In Christ, we now share in the promises that God has made to His family. It's in this sense that all the promises are "yes" in Christ for us.
So, how do we correctly claim the promises of God like the one in Jeremiah 29:11?
We plant the promises of God through prayer.
1) Proper interpretation. We seek to understand the promise in its grammatical, historical context.
2) Sound theology. We learn the truth about the ways God acts in behalf of His children.
3) Genuine humility. We don't make arrogant, self-centered demands of God.
4) Historical awareness. Because we know God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, we believe God can act in our behalf like He once did for His ancient people.
5) Confident boldness. Because we know that we sometimes do not have because we often do not ask (James 4:2b), we boldly ask for the favor of God based on the promise.
6) Faithful expectation. Then we eagerly watch, trusting God with the what, the how, and the when.
7) God-centered praise. We are poised to give God all the glory for what He does for us (even for what He chooses to withhold).
So, practically speaking, how do we do this? How exactly are we to pray?
We might pray something like the following:
"Lord, You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. I know that Jeremiah 29:11 was not written primarily for me. Thank You that You fulfilled that promise for ancient Israel. You did restore their fortunes. I, too, am one of Your beloved children. Like Your people in Jeremiah's day, I have rightly been disciplined by You. I also have experienced brokenness in my life. Today, I put my finger on this promise and look to heaven - to You. I ask You, Lord, to execute Your good plans for me - plans for welfare and not for calamity. Bring about a future and a hope for me, Lord. Fulfill this promise in Your way and in Your time for me, for my family, for my church. Fulfilling promises is who You are. This is what You do. I believe that the fulfillment of Jeremiah 29:11 for me has been made possible through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen."
"Lord, You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. I know that Jeremiah 29:11 was not written primarily for me. Thank You that You fulfilled that promise for ancient Israel. You did restore their fortunes. I, too, am one of Your beloved children. Like Your people in Jeremiah's day, I have rightly been disciplined by You. I also have experienced brokenness in my life. Today, I put my finger on this promise and look to heaven - to You. I ask You, Lord, to execute Your good plans for me - plans for welfare and not for calamity. Bring about a future and a hope for me, Lord. Fulfill this promise in Your way and in Your time for me, for my family, for my church. Fulfilling promises is who You are. This is what You do. I believe that the fulfillment of Jeremiah 29:11 for me has been made possible through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen."
What might happen if you regularly picked some promises of God from His word and began to plant them through prayer? Why not try a 30 day prayer experiment where you plant and keep on planting the promises of God?
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