Vertically Challenged!!?

A couple years ago, the phrase ‘vertically challenged’ was used to describe someone or something that was, well…short. And while I haven’t heard this phrase for quite sometime, it does explain very well what others describe, in prayer, as ‘prayers bouncing off the ceiling.’ Do you feel like when you prayer your prayers just evaporate into the heavenly stratosphere? Well, recently in my study with prayer. I came across some texts that might help each of us to better align ourselves in prayer.

Will we pray in Heaven?

This question recently came to mind as I was preparing to speak at a Christian church. Will we pray in heaven? Its an interesting question. And one I didn’t have an immediate answer to. I had to do a bit of digging in God’s word to find out the answer. I hope that the answer surprises you as much as it did me!

The God of All Comfort

1 Corinthians 1:3-5 says this, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.” (NKJV) Recently, I have seen some friends of mine go through some disheartening circumstances. And, well, honestly I don’t know what to say to them. I don’t know how help their situation. I don’t know how to comfort them.  But I am reminded by the verse above that God is a God of comfort. And I am realizing that God can do what I cannot do. He can be a comforter.  Let me ask you a question: Do you pray that God would comfort others, or that God would be a comforter to yourself and others?

God’s Promises

Promises for us in the Bible       (Updated 1/1/2019)

The following are a number of promises in God’s Word that we can claim in our prayers—asking in faith for God to do what He has already promised to do. . .

Table of Contents (List of Promise Categories Covered):

1. Comfort & Assured Presence of God
2. Guidance
3. Pardon/Forgiveness/Cleansing
4. Deliverance, Salvation, & Overcoming Hardship, Fear, and the World
5. Hope for God’s Remnant Church (represented as a woman)
6. Hope for God’s Remnant Church (often represented as Zion/Jerusalem/daughter of Zion)
7. Sanctification & Character Perfecting
8. Supplying needs
9. Healing
10. Supplying wants

Comfort & Assured Presence of God

• Isaiah 40:1—Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
• Jeremiah 31:3—The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
• Isaiah 43:5a—Fear not: for I am with thee . . .
• Hebrews 13:5—I will never leave you nor forsake you.
• Psalm 37:28—For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not His saints; they are preserved forever . . . .
• Revelation 21:4—And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.
• Isaiah 26:3—You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
• Isaiah 40:11—He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
• Deuteronomy 33:12—The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him, and the Lord shall cover him all the day long.
• Lamentations 3:32—But though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies.
• Psalm 34:18—The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
• 2 Chronicles 15:2—The LORD is with you, while ye be with Him, and if ye seek Him, He will be found of you; but if ye forsake Him, He will forsake you.
• Isaiah 66:2b—But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word.
• Isaiah 66:5—Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at His word; your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for My name’s sake, said, ‘let the LORD be glorified:’ but He shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
• Isaiah 46:3-4—Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: And even to your old age I am He; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.
• Isaiah 57:1-2a—The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds . . . .
• Isaiah 49:14-16—But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands….
• Psalm 121:4-5a—Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: …
• Psalm 125:1-2—They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth forever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about His people from henceforth even forever.
• Psalm 145:18—The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.
• Matthew 18:20–For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
• Proverbs 15:3—the eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
• Luke 11:13—If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?
• John 14:26—But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
• Luke 12:11-12—And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: for the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
• Matthew 28:20—I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
• Isaiah 41:9-10—Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
• Revelation 21:5—Behold, I make all things new.
• Isaiah 51:3—For the LORD shall comfort Zion: He will comfort all her waste places; and He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
• Isaiah 35:10—And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
• Isaiah 51:11—Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

Guidance

First, we must recognize we cannot guide ourselves—our sinful disorientation points us in the wrong direction. Divine omniscience, wisdom, and guidance is needed to successfully navigate life’s journey along the Narrow Way:

• Proverbs 14:12 [& 16:25]—There is a way which [that] seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
• Jeremiah 10:23-24—O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.

• Jeremiah 33:3—Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
• Proverbs 9:10-11—The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. For by me [wisdom] thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
• Proverbs 3:5-7—Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

“Plans for the Future”

Many are unable to make definite plans for the future. Their life is unsettled. They cannot discern the outcome of affairs, and this often fills them with anxiety and unrest. Let us remember that the life of God’s children in this world is a pilgrim life. We have not wisdom to plan our own lives. It is not for us to shape our future. “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” Hebrews 11:8.

Christ in His life on earth made no plans for Himself. He accepted God’s plans for Him, and day by day the Father unfolded His plans. So should we depend upon God, that our lives may be the simple outworking of His will. As we commit our ways to Him, He will direct our steps.

Too many, in planning for a brilliant future, make an utter failure. Let God plan for you. As a little child, trust to the guidance of Him who will “keep the feet of His saints.” 1 Samuel 2:9. God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as co-workers with Him.

{Ministry of Healing 478-479}

• Proverbs 2:6-9—For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of His saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
• Psalm 32:8—I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
• Proverbs 11:14—Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
• Proverbs 15:22—Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
• Proverbs 10:17—He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.
• Proverbs 16:9—A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
• Psalm 37:23—The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and He delighteth in His way.
• Psalm 37:5—Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.
• Isaiah 30:20-21—And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, ‘This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”
• Isaiah 57:18—I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.
• Isaiah 61:8—For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. . . .
• Jeremiah 6:16—Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.
• Proverbs 16:20—He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

Pardon/Forgiveness/Cleansing

• Jeremiah 3:22—Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto Thee; for Thou art the LORD our God.
• Isaiah 1:18—“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
• 1 John 1:9—If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
• 1 John 1:7—But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
• 1 John 2:1—My little children, these things I write to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
• Psalm 130:3-4—If Thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared.
• Psalm 130:7-8—Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
• Lamentations 3:22-23—It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.
• Proverbs 28:13—He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
• Isaiah 43:25-26—I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.
• Isaiah 45:25—In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.
• Isaiah 55:7—Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
• Isaiah 57:15-18a—For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend forever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made. For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid Me, and was wroth, and he went on forwardly in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal him….
• Jeremiah 3:12-15—…Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger forever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD. Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
• Jeremiah 31:34—And they [the house of Israel] shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, form the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
• Jeremiah 33:6-8—Behold, I will bring it [Jerusalem personified] health and cure, and I will cure them [God’s people], and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth. And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first. And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.
• Ephesians 4:7—Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
• John 3:16—For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Deliverance, Salvation, & Overcoming Hardship, Fear, and the World

• Romans 8:28—And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
• Genesis 8:14—Is anything too hard for the Lord?
• Isaiah 40:28-31—Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
• Isaiah 41:10—Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
• 2 Chronicles 15:7—Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.
• Exodus 14:14—The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
• Romans 8:31b—If God be for us, who can be against us?
• Isaiah 41:11-13—Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee Fear not; I will help thee.
• Jeremiah 31:11—For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.
• Isaiah 43:1-2—But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
• Isaiah 59:19b-20—When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. And the redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.
• Philippians 4:13—I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
• Isaiah 4:5-6—And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defense [margin: for above all the glory shall be a covering]. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.
• Isaiah 26:20—Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment until the indignation be overpast.
• Exodus 4:12—I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.
• Acts 1:8—You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.
• James 1:5—If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
• Proverbs 14:26-27—In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
• Luke 18:27—The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
• Mark 10:27—And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
• John 8:32—And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
• Isaiah 12:2—Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
• 2 Peter 3:9—The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
• Isaiah 30:18-19—And therefore will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for Him. . . . thou shalt weep no more: He will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when He shall hear it, He will answer thee.
• Isaiah 33:14-17—The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; he shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.
• Isaiah 35:3-4—Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; He will come and save you.
• Isaiah 59:15-16—Yea, truth faileth [in worldly judgment]; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no [true] judgment. And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefor His arm brought salvation unto him; and His righteousness, it sustained him.
• 1 John 2:25—And this is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life.
• 1 John 5:4—For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
• Psalm 34:4—I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
• Psalm 34:7—The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.
• Psalm 34:17—The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
• Psalm 34:19—Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.
• Psalm 37:39-40—But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him.
• Psalm 121:5b-8—the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
• Psalm 138:7—Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me: Thou shalt stretch forth Thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and Thy right hand shall save me.
• Psalm 145:19-20—He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them. The LORD preserveth all them that love Him: but all the wicked will He destroy.
• Proverbs 3:21b, 23-26—Keep sound wisdom and discretion . . . . Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
• Proverbs 11:6,8—The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. . . . The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
• Proverbs 15:13—A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
• Isaiah 49:23c-25—. . . Thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me. Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.
• Matthew 24:31—He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
• Isaiah 45:17—But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.
• Isaiah 45:22-24—Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by Myself, the word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to Him shall men come; and all that are incensed against Him shall be ashamed.
• Isaiah 57:13b—but he that putteth his trust in Me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain…

Hope for God’s Remnant Church (represented as a woman)

Isaiah 54:1-17

Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord. [Compare with Babylon’s many daughters!] ² Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; ³ For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. ⁴ Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. ⁵ For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. ⁶ For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. ⁷ For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. ⁸ In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. ⁹ For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. ¹⁰ For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. ¹¹ O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. ¹² And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. ¹³ And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children. ¹⁴ In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. ¹⁵ Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. ¹⁶ Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. ¹⁷ No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

Hope for God’s Remnant Church (often represented as Zion/Jerusalem/daughter of Zion)

Isaiah 62:1-3, 11-12

For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah [Delight], and thy land Beulah [Sought After and Married]: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.

Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold His reward is with Him, and His work before Him. And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.

2 Peter 3:13—Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Revelation 22:14—Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Isaiah 65:17-19, 21-25

For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. . . . And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer, and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

Isaiah 66:21-23

And I will also take of them [referring to the servants of God / inhabitants of Jerusalem and those who “love her, rejoice for joy with her,” and that “mourn for her”—Isa. 66:10] for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD. For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

Sanctification & Character Perfecting

• 2 Peter 1:4—By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
• Jude 24—Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. . . .
• Philippians 1:6—Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
• Hebrews 2:18—For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
• 1 Corinthians 10:13—There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
• James 1:12—Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life, which the LORD hath promised to them that love Him.
• 1 John 4:16—And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
• Psalm 138:8—The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth forever: forsake not the works of Thine own hands.
• Proverbs 3:11-12—My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of His correction: For whom the LORD loveth He correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Supplying needs

• Philippians 4:19—And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
• Isaiah 41:17—When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
• 1 Peter 5:7—Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
• John 10:10—The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
• 2 Corinthians 9:8—God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.
• Psalm 34:8-10—O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him. O fear the Lord, ye His saints: for there is no want to them that fear Him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.
• Psalm 33:18-19—Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
• Psalm 37:3—Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
• Psalm 127:2—He giveth His beloved sleep.
• Proverbs 10:3—The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.
• Proverbs 13:25—the righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.
• Psalm 23:1—The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.
• Isaiah 33:16—…. He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.

Healing

• Exodus 15:26—And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.
• Exodus 23:25—And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.
• Deuteronomy 7:15—And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.
• Psalm 41:3—The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
• Psalm 103:1-5—Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
• Proverbs 17:22—A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
• Isaiah 38:16—O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live.
• Isaiah 57:18-19—I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him.
• Jeremiah 17:14—Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.
• Jeremiah 30:17—For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.
• Jeremiah 33:6—Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.
• James 5:14-16—Is any 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 shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Supplying wants

• Matthew 7:7-8—Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
• 1 John 5:14-15—And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.
• Psalm 84:11-12—For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
• Psalm 37:4—Delight thyself also in the Lord: and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
  • In order to delight ourselves in God’s presence, we must know Him. When we know Him, this will manifest in love for Him. Our love for Him will also be manifested in our love for others. Love is selflessness—this is the character of God. If His presence is with us (which happens if we are truly in His presence), His Spirit will dwell in our hearts. If this is the case, then the desires of our heart will be God’s desires as well. And if God desires it—surely we will receive the desires of our Spirit-filled heart.
• John 15:7—If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will [desire], and it shall be done unto you.
  • If God does not dwell in our hearts and sanctify our desires, there is the very real possibility that what we ask of God will not be received. As James 4:3 states, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” If we ask for purely selfish reasons, God will most likely ignore our request unless He sees that greater good can come out of it—even if it means us having to learn a lesson the hard way.

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Unless otherwise noted, all Bible texts are from the Authorized King James Version, or from the New King James Version, copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.

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P.S. (Bonus!)

Several Prayer Promises from the Spirit of Prophecy (Ellen G. White):

• “It is a part of God’s plan to grant us, in answer to the prayer of faith, that which He would not bestow did we not thus ask” (The Great Controversy, 525).
• “Every sincere prayer is heard in heaven. It may not be fluently expressed; but if the heart is in it, it will ascend to the sanctuary where Jesus ministers and He will present it to the Father without one awkward, stammering word, beautiful and fragrant with the incense of His own perfection.” (The Desire of Ages, 667).
• “We do not value the power and efficacy of prayer as we should. Prayer and faith will do what no power on earth can accomplish” (Ministry of Healing, 509).
• “Ministering angels are waiting about the throne to instantly obey the mandate of Jesus Christ to answer every prayer offered in earnest, living faith” (Selected Messages, 2, 377).

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This is not a complete list, so if you have a promise you would like to see included, let me know in the comments section below!

 

Understanding Prayer 105

“What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:24).

Have you ever prayed for something and not received it? Maybe you prayed for God’s protection but still got hurt. Or maybe you asked God to give you that dream car but you never have received it. Maybe you’ve asked God to vindicate you and bring justice on your enemies, but justice never came. Why? Why do our prayers go unanswered?