January 15

Morning

And now, O LORD God, confirm forever the word You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house. Do as You have promised, — 2 Sam 7:25 BSB

God’s promises were never meant to be discarded like waste paper; they are meant to be used. God’s riches aren’t like miser’s money, hoarded and never spent—they are made to be traded with. Nothing pleases our Lord more than seeing His promises put into action. He delights in His children coming to Him and saying, “Lord—do as You have said.”

We glorify God when we plead His promises. Do you think God will be any poorer for giving you the blessings He has promised? Do you imagine He will lose any of His holiness by granting you holiness? Or that He will be any less pure by cleansing you from your sins? He has said, “Come now, let us reason together, though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Faith grasps this promise of forgiveness and does not hesitate, saying, “This is a precious promise—let me see if it’s true.” No, it takes the promise straight to the throne and pleads, “Lord, You have said it—now do as You have promised.”

Our Lord replies, “Be it unto you according to your faith.” When a Christian takes hold of a promise and doesn’t bring it to God, they dishonor Him. But when they rush to the throne of grace and cry, “Lord, I have nothing to bring but this—You have said it,” their request will be granted. Our heavenly Banker delights to cash His own notes.

Don’t let the promise gather dust. Take out the Word of promise and use it with bold faith. Don’t think God will be troubled by your constant reminders of His promises—He loves to hear the cries of needy souls. It’s His joy to bestow blessings. He’s more ready to listen than you are to ask. The sun never tires of shining, nor the fountain of flowing. It’s in God’s nature to keep His promises, so go to the throne with boldness, saying, “Do as You have said.”

Evening

In return for my love they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer. — Ps 109:4 BSB

Lying tongues were busy attacking David’s reputation, but he didn’t defend himself. Instead, he took his case to a higher court and pleaded his cause before the great King of heaven. Prayer is the safest response to words of hatred. David prayed with his whole heart—he poured his soul into it, putting all his strength into his plea, just as Jacob wrestled with the angel. This is the only way any of us will find true help at the throne of grace. A prayer that lacks the heart’s full engagement, offered without true urgency or deep desire, is like a shadow without substance—it has no power. “Fervent prayer,” as one old preacher said, “is like a cannon aimed at the gates of heaven, making them fly open.”

One of the most common problems we face is how easily we get distracted in prayer. Our minds wander, and we make little progress toward our goal. Like mercury, our thoughts scatter in every direction. This is a great evil. It harms us and, even worse, it dishonors God. What would we think of someone who, while speaking with a king, was playing with a feather or chasing after a fly?

Perseverance and persistence are implied in David’s words. He didn’t cry out just once and then fall silent—his persistent cries eventually brought the blessing down. Prayer should not be an occasional task but a daily practice, a habit we give ourselves to with all our hearts. Just as artists devote themselves to their craft, and poets immerse themselves in their work, we must dedicate ourselves to prayer. We must dwell in prayer as in our natural environment, praying without ceasing. Lord, teach us to pray in such a way that we become more and more effective in our supplications.