I have treasured memories of reading Highlights magazine with my kids. We especially loved the pictures where the goal was to find hidden objects. Remember those?
At first glance, we were looking at children walking their dog. But upon closer inspection, the leash was actually a snake, and the girl’s red laces in her sneakers were licorice.
One must train their eye to look for the objects within the picture. Our focus is now directed at things that don’t belong—the problem.
I have found this often applies to our approach to prayer.
The Bible tells us to bring our needs to the Lord (Philippians 4:6-7). But I’ve noticed, we tend to focus on our perceived needs, deficiencies, and defeats—a new job, healing, more money, salvation for a loved one, protection, our mess-ups, ______________.
There’s nothing wrong with praying for what we need or when we feel defeated. The problem is when our focus is solely on the needs, we don’t see the whole picture.
Our focus is now on the gift rather than the giver.
What if we train ourselves to pray from the place of God’s promises and victory, and not from defeat?
God’s promises represent His character—who He is.
His names also show us who He is as well as what He does.
Jesus is called “The Prince of Peace.” He not only gives peace. He is peace.
Here’s how it looks.
Praying from Victory, Not Defeat
- You have a Problem/Need.
That discolored mole turns out to be cancer. - Find Scripture/s with the solution.
“He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.” Isaiah 53:5
“Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” Jeremiah 17:14 - Remind God of the problem/need and thank Him for the solution.
Prayer example: God, You are my healer. I know I will be healed whether here on earth or in heaven with You. You are good and Your plans for me are good. Thank you for the peace that is promised to me when I take my anxious thoughts to You. I receive Your promise of peace now as I trust You with my healing according to Your will.
Do you see the potential transformation this can bring when our perspective shifts?
Friends, the Father delights in blessing His children through His promises!
“So if you sinful people 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.” Luke 11:13
Here is a list of a few common problems/needs with the promises found in Scripture.
Praying God’s Promises
Fear
“So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, ‘Abba, Father.'” Romans 8:15
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7
Doubt
“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”
Mark 9:23-24Guilt/Shame
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:17
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:8-12
Hope
“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.” Ephesians 1:18
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
As we learn more about God through scripture, we also learn that we have all we truly need.
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these, he has given us his great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
2 Peter 1:3-4 (emphasis mine).
Dear ones, this is not some new technique or exercise to try. Nor is it “name it and claim it” (prosperity gospel). This is praying the power of God’s truth back to Him.
So, let’s pray promises over poverty and victory over defeat in the mighty name of Jesus!
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I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
Well done Beckie – we all need victory today.
Del
Faith is the Victory!
Your words and the scriptures you shared here, Beckie, made my spirit soar today! We do have the victory through Christ Jesus, and we need to pray from that standpoint. With Him at our side, nothing can defeat us.
Blessings!
Martha, your comment made my heart smile! Praise the Lord that He used this post to lift your spirit.
Great message, Beckie. In a Bible study by Jennifer Rothschild, she encourages to pray for what our REAL needs are: “Lord, reveal my real needs so I can see how you meet them.”
And I like how you said our focus becomes about the gift instead of the Giver. I want to focus on the Giver himself.
Karen, that seems like a great study. I love Jennifer Rothschild. I’ll check it out. Thanks, my friend!
When we truly understand who we are in Christ our perspective in all things change. Thank you for reminding us of that!
Thanks, Lee Ann! I’m glad you found this helpful. Writing about the promises of God helps me stay close to Him.
Hallelujah and Amen Beckie!!
Thank you, Kristi Ann! ❤️
You’re Very Welcome Sister in Jesus-Yeshua Christ-Messiah Beckie!!
Love Always and Shalom, YSIC \o/
Kristi Ann