Sunday, January 28, 2024

Praying God's Promises


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And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord
~Genesis 4:26

Why do we pray? Is it just because we think we should or are we praying for the things God has promised?


A friend of mine related how her pastor used the verse from Genesis 4:26 to help them see how God honors His promises. Seth was Adam and Eve's third son. In Genesis 3:15 God promised to send the Savior to bruise Satan's head though Satan would bruise his heel. Satan immediately began a plan to derail God's promise. God gave Adam and Eve two sons, Cain and Able. They taught their boys to make the blood sacrifice of an animal for the forgiveness of sin just as God had made the sacrifice for them. However, Cain felt his hard work should be good enough. When God rejected Cain's sacrifice of his crops, Cain was angry and in jealousy killed his brother. The righteous seed of Able was destroyed and Satan thought he had won the war early.


Adam and Eve did not lose faith in God's promise. Nor had God turned his back on his promise. Eve conceived again and Seth was born. Once again Adam and Eve taught their son to have faith in God's promise, to make the blood sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin. There is no mention of Adam and Eve's other children following the Lord except in a lineage of Godly men and their families to Noah. When all the world went their own way every thought was evil. But Noah believed God and found grace in his eyes.


When we pray today, do we hold to God's promises or are we simply making rote prayers in vain repetition like the heathen to their idols?

Remember your first prayer of faith in God's promise? 
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13

  • We know we sin daily. What is God's promise? I John 1:0
  • We pray for the salvation of our family. Do we stand on the promise of Acts 16:31?
  • We pray for the sick. Why? James 5:16
  • If we ask for healing does that always mean we are healed on this earth? The saved are winners either way. Psalms 116:15
  • Do we pray for our leaders, even those with whom we disagree? I Timothy 2:1-4
  • As conflicts arise more and more in the Middle East, do we love Israel enough to pray for her? Psalms 122:6
God makes us a promise of blessings with each prayer we pray. 
What an awesome God we serve.

Father God, we love you and thank you for your promises and blessings. May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). In Jesus's name. Amen.


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