Comfort

A friend is grieving deeply at the moment and in preparation  to ministering to her I looked up the promises God gives to comfort us in our troubles.

2 Corinthians 1:3 tells  God is "The Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God"

Isaiah prophesied that the anointing sends "me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair"  (Isaiah 61: 1-3)  Jesus claimed this prophesy was referring to him, but it also applies to anyone who is anointed by the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord.

When I mourning after the death of my father I was comforted by the knowledge that God understood my grief - Jesus was a man of sorrows and he carried my sorrows on the cross.  (Isaiah 53) I also found  Lamentation 3:32,33 very helpful. "Though He brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.  For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men" 

Ecclesiastes points out (Eccles 3:4) that "there is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance"   God promises to comfort us as we mourn Isaiah 57:18 " I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him, creating praise on the lips of the mourners in Israel.  Peace, peace to those far and near says the Lord. And I will heal them"  He doesn't just bring comfort but healing to the grieving.  In Jeremiah 31:13 God promises "I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow"   

The writer of Psalm 119 took comfort from God's promises. Verse 50 "Your promise revives me, it comforts me in all my troubles"  and v76 "Let your unfailing love comfort me just as you promised me"

God's word tell me that God is close to the broken hearted (Psalm 34:8) and he heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3)

My mother

For many, many years I have been praying for my mother's salvation.  I have seen her change from someone who is opposed to the Gospel, to someone who has attended church and softened in her attitude to God.  It can be discouraging when you pray for something for many years and not see the answer, but some years ago he spoke to me through Isaiah 55:11. She has heard the Gospel and she will respond to it .

I was reminded of this verse again today as I prayed for my mother and claimed this promise that she will respond to the Gospel and be saved.

Asking for wisdom

Recently in the mornings I have been reading and meditating on 1 Kings.  In chapter 3 God appears to Solomon in a dream and God said "Ask whatever you want me to give you"  Solomon asks for wisdom.  This pleases God and in the next two chapters we see how God gave Solomon exceedingly abundant wisdom.

I am constantly in need of wisdom and asking God to give this to me.  Knowing it is a prayer that pleases God is encouraging, but I went on to look for promises God makes to give wisdom so I can ask in faith.  The first  one I thought of  is James 1:5,6 

There are many references to seeking wisdom in Proverbs. Proverbs 2:3-6 states:

"If you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.  For the Lord gives wisdom and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding."

Children and Grandchildren

Reading the Bible recently I have across several promises regarding children and grandchildren. Having seen how the writer of Psalm 119 prays 'according to your promises' I felt I should apply this method of praying when I intercede for my children and grandchildren.  With the help of a concordance I soon found a number of promises God makes to bless my children.  I recorded them and then repeated them to God as I prayed for my children and grandchildren, reminding him to keep these promises.

My grandchildren

I had only just started to pray when my son phoned me, an unusual occurrence and one that encouraged me to persevere with this method of praying.  Over the next week or so I saw other signs that God was working in the hearts of my children and grandchildren.  One of my grandson asked his father questions about where God was and did he get cold at night.  My daughter went to a church carol service and one of her boys insisted on going with her. These may only seem like small incidents but I am encouraged by them and I will persist in praying for them using the following promises from God's Word.

Proverbs 20:7  "The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him"

Psalm 37:26  [The righteous]" are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.":

Psalm 102:28 "The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants established before you."

Psalm 112:1,2 "Blessed is the man who fears the Lord ... His children will be mighty in the land"

Proverbs 14:26 "He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress and for his children it will be a refuge."

Proverbs 22:6 "Start children off on the way they should go and even when they are old they will not turn from it"

Isaiah 49:25 "I will contend with those who contend with you and your children I will save"

Isaiah 54:l3 "All your children will be taught by the Lord and great will be their peace"

Psalm 103:17 "But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children"

Isaiah 59:21 " As for me, this is my covenant with them, says the Lord.  'My Spirit who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth or from the mouths of your children and from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and for ever' says the Lord.

Isaiah 65 23, 24 "They will not toil in vain or bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them.  Before they call I will answer, while they are still speaking I will hear."

Deut 30:19 "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.  Now choose life, so that you and your children may live"

"According to your promises"

I have recently been studying Psalm 119 and I was struck by how often the psalmist ended petitions with “according to your word” or “according to your promise”. He knew God was faithful and by reminding Him of His word he was increasing his faith as he prayed. I realised that this was a powerful way to pray so decided it was worth further study so I could apply this method of prayer to my prayer life.  In this blog I will record discoveries I have made along this journey to make my prayers more effective by claiming God's promises.

In Psalm 119 it  does not mention where in God’s word there was specific promises to back up the psalmist's requests, but I could easily find passages that he might have been referring to and which I could use in my prayers.

The most frequent request was “Preserve my life according to your word [or promise]” (See v25, 37, 107, 149, 154 NIV). In the New Living Translation “Preserve my life” is translated “revive me”or “restore me” or “protect me” This has more relevance to me at this time as I don’t feel my life is in any particular danger, but I know I daily need to be be revived or restored or protected. I immediately thought of Psalm 91 which are full of God’s promises to protect me.

I list below the other requests the writer of Psalm 119 made to God and specific promises that backed up his faith to add "according to your word/promise"

“Strengthen me according to your word” (v28)  compare Isaiah 40:31,

"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, 

they will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint"

“Be gracious to me according to your promise” (v58 ) compare Isaiah 30:18

"The Lord longs to be gracious to you;  he rises  he rises to show you compassion. 
For the Lord is a a God of justice, blessed are all who wait for him".

 “Do good to your servant according to your word”  (v65) compare Psalm145:9

"The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made."

 “Sustain me according to your promise and I shall live” (v113) compare Psalm 55:22

"Cast all your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you;  He will never let the righteous fall"

and Isaiah 46:4,
 "Even to your old age and grey hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you.  
I have made you and I will carry you;  I will sustain and and I will rescue you"

 “Direct my footsteps according to your word” (v133) compare Proverbs 3:5,6

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
 in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight."

“Deliver me according to your word” (v170) Compare Psalm 34:19

"The righteous man may have many troubles but the Lord delivers him from them all"

“Give me understanding according to your word”  ( v169) compare Proverbs 2:3-6

"If you call your for insight and cry aloud for understanding ...then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.  For the Lord gives wisdom and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding."

“May your unfailing love be my comfort according to your promise” ( v76) cf Is 66:13 

"As a mother comforts her child so will I comfort you"