Obtaining Promises

Once, I was reading the devotional, Springs in the Valley. For a particular day, faith was discussed in a few short paragraphs from Samuel Chadwick. Though Chadwick’s comments filled only two-thirds of the page, they were pregnant with meaning, and some of his thoughts coincided with my own study of faith over the years. The bottom line is that faith exercised obtains promises.

This emphasis involves several aspects:

Promises demand faith—or you miss out. Speaking of men and women of the Old Testament who trusted God, Hebrews 11:33 explains, “Who through faith…obtained promises.” The implication is that promises are not automatic; they must be obtained through faith. This alone is a life-changing truth! James 4:2 says plainly, “Ye have not, because ye ask not.” If words have meaning and if language has integrity, then there are promises of blessing that some miss out on, simply because they neglect to obtain them through the exercise of faith. Chadwick states, “We fail to realize because we do not appropriate.”

God gives specific promises for specific faith. Romans 10:17 specifies that faith comes by hearing, “and hearing by the word of God.” The term word is rhema, indicating the specific word of God. No matter what the need—guidance, temporal needs or spiritual blessing—God has provided words as the foundation for faith. Search the Scriptures trusting the Spirit to lead you to the very promise you need for a given situation. My grandmother, Oma Van Gelderen, regularly practiced this and then prayed in confidence that God would answer. (Her exercising of faith is highlighted in the biography, The Prayer That Makes a Difference.)

Behind every promise is the character of God. Titus 1:2 speaks of God who “cannot lie.” Chadwick says, “God honors the person who trusts Him implicitly.” God delights in blessing the one who is willing to prove His faithfulness. Realizing who God is inspires faith. D. L. Moody said, “The way to get faith is to know who God is.” God’s character backs His word. 

It is Christ’s worth, not ours that gives us access to God’s promises. Second Corinthians 1:20 boldly affirms, “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen.” What a precious availability to the promises of God through our union with Jesus!

If God gives you the desire, He will respond if you trust Him. Hebrews 12:2 clarifies, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” Faith is always a response to the Spirit of Jesus convincing you to trust the words of God. My faith journey began in earnest about twenty-three years ago when the Holy Spirit used a book by Andrew Murray and highlighted to my heart Philippians 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” The thrilling truth is that when the Spirit of God illuminates a particular truth to your heart and convinces you to trust in it, you have a sure foundation that God will be true to His word if you trust in Him.

God’s desire is for you to trust Him, exercise faith, and obtain promises in Christ. What promises await your asking in faith?