This content has been archived. It may no longer be relevant
The Bible is filled with the promises of a passionately loving God to an erratic and rebellious people—his cajoling and chastising, his mercy and kindness that compel him to want to make and keep his life-enhancing, life-changing promises to us. And not just on earth but into eternity.
Indeed, if we believe, we may claim all the promises that the Lord has given us and which are recorded in his Book, the Bible.
In one passage, Matthew says, According to your faith, let this be done for you (Mt 9:29). And I do think that faith in Our Lord is a basic prerequisite for claiming a promise.
On the other hand, I have heard of many instances when a person who cannot muster up faith just cries out to God for help, and he has been helped. For Jesus has also said, I tell you solemnly, if your faith were the size of a mustard seed …nothing would be impossible to you (Mt 17:20).
What does it mean to claim a promise? For me, it means that I select some verse or passage in the Bible that speaks to me, that resonates with the situation I am in, and I take it to heart.
I often write down the verse or verses and read them on and off until I get some sort of answer or the assurance that God has heard and will answer.
Sometimes there are certain prerequisites attached to God’s promises. Like if you are bringing a gift to the altar and remember that your brother has something against you, first go and make peace with your brother, and then bring your gift (Mt 5:23-24).
If you read the Scriptures carefully and ponder their meaning, you will know better than to claim a promise as if the Bible were a slot machine.
Rather, approach God as a child might its father to ask for something with full confidence in its father’s love and superior wisdom. He may not give us exactly what we ask for, but he will give us what we need. God always keeps his promises.
When we trust God in every aspect of our life, for every single need, desire, want, dream, or vision, we discover that he delights in giving us our heart’s desires.
I have tried and tested every word of Jesus and his promises as recounted in the Gospels.
For instance, Give and there will be gifts for you. Gifts pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap (Lk 6:38).
I once decided to try this with my domestic helpers, and hey, presto, it worked!
The more I gave away, the more I got. And not just wages—all sorts of stuff, like clothes, food, medicines, etc. When we give to the poor it delights the heart of God. Even when I have given when I was without a job for months and even years, I have always had enough to give away.
And those beautiful promises in Matthew: Consider the lilies of the field. They neither toil nor spin, and yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed as one of these (Mt 6:28-29).
And the best of all: Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all else will be added to you as well (Mt 6:33).
I also find certain psalms of David extremely appropriate for various situations. King David claimed and received many favors from God, as did Joseph of the many-colored coat, Moses, Abraham and others.
These Old Testament prophets and leaders inspire me to a deeper understanding of God’s ways and help me to pray with greater persistence and clarity.
Here is a verse from the word of God full of promises:
Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you (Mt 7:8).
And a verse on the power of the Holy Spirit:
You shall receive power after the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me (Acts 1:8).
Some of the bible promises deal with healing. Here is one:
Is there anyone sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up (James 5:14-15).
God’s promises pertain not just to faith, healing, and petitions, but also to our relationship with him and others. We can find in the Bible, verses which pertain to fellowship with God, forgiveness, help, salvation, spiritual welfare, strength for body and soul, wisdom, and much else.
Often I write a Scripture verse on a piece of paper and place it between the pages of my Bible, there to remain until the Lord fulfills it.
Here are some promises I have claimed:
Create in me, O Lord, a pure heart, and renew in me a steadfast spirit (Ps 51:10). I prayed this prayer for over a year when I went through a long period of depression.
Set your heart on heavenly things, not on things that are on the earth. For you are dead, and now the life you now have is hidden with Christ (Col 3:2-3). This very powerful verse has truly opened the pathways of peace for me and brought untold happiness. I highly recommend it.
I could go on and on. Take a verse or promise from the Bible, meditate on it until it becomes part of your very marrow, bone and flesh, and see how the Lord honors his Word.
In 1985, the author read Catherine Doherty’s book, Poustinia, which inspired her to live as a poustinik in her home in India. She only discovered a few years ago that Catherine had founded a community, and she has since visited Madonna House three times.
