Praying the Promises

Praying the promises is the most important element in the right use of the promises. This is because, despite all our striving to believe and apply the promises of God, we sometimes still find ourselves "Troubled on every side; without [are] fightings, within [are] fears" (2 Cor. 7:5) and "pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we [despair] even of life," feeling that "we [have] the sentence of death in ourselves" (2 Cor. 1:8-9). Are we without hope? When we find ourselves in such straits, are we destined to be tossed on the waves of life's storms without the anchor of divine promises?

Not at all. As distant and out of reach as the promises of God may seem to us in such straits, a mighty means of comfort is still available to us. That means is prayer. Even when everything seems to have failed and the very bottom of life seems to have fallen out, if we but cry out to God in prayer, even if we merely utter groans before the throne of God (Ps. 22:11-15), it will be enough. We will find almost unexplainable strength to go on, we will find hope for another day, and we will be enabled to boast of the Lord and His promises (Ps. 22:19, 22-24). Prayer, more than anything else,  denies self, relinquishes control, confesses need, leans on God, goes outside of ourselves, and cries out for help. Prayer that is founded on the promises of God and puts Him in remembrance of them will more than make up for the deficit of our unbelief, impatience, and doubt. Prayer that pleads the promises of God and confesses our hope in His Word will never disappoint, but will strengthen us and carry us through the valley of the shadow of death until the Lord grants relief (Ps. 27:12-14; 21:7).

Living By God's Promises, Joel R. Beeke & James A. La Belle, Reformation Heritage Books, 2010, pp. 85-86.