How can we apply "do as You have promised" in our daily prayers? Setting the Scene “ ‘And now, O LORD God, fulfill forever the promise You have made to Your servant and his house. Do as You have promised.’ ” (2 Samuel 7:25) David has just heard God’s covenant promises through Nathan: an enduring dynasty, a son who would build the temple, and a kingdom established forever. David responds by anchoring his prayer in God’s own words. That simple request—“Do as You have promised”—forms a model for every believer’s prayer life. What the Phrase Means • It is an appeal to God’s character: He is truthful and unchanging (Numbers 23:19). • It is an act of faith: we rely on the literal promises recorded in Scripture (Hebrews 10:23). • It is an expression of humility: we bring nothing but God’s Word back to Him (Psalm 119:49). • It is permission to expect fulfillment: God delights to keep what He has pledged (Isaiah 46:11b). Principles for Our Prayers 1. Identify the promise • Search the Scriptures and note exactly what God has said. • Read the promise in its context to ensure proper application. 2. Align with God’s purpose • David’s request matched God’s redemptive plan; our petitions should do the same (Matthew 6:9-10). 3. Ask boldly yet reverently • “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence” (Hebrews 4:16). 4. Expect literal fulfillment in God’s timing • “Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come” (Habakkuk 2:3). 5. Live in obedience while waiting • Faith-filled obedience demonstrates that we believe the promise (James 2:17). Practical Ways to Incorporate the Phrase • Open your Bible alongside your prayer journal. Write the promise word-for-word, then simply pray, “Father, do as You have promised.” • When anxious, locate a relevant promise (e.g., Philippians 4:6-7) and repeat it aloud, adding “Do as You have promised in Your Word.” • In family prayer, read a covenant promise together (e.g., Isaiah 54:13) and invite each member to echo, “Lord, do as You have promised for our household.” • During corporate worship, integrate a promise into intercessory prayer, modeling David’s approach for the congregation. • Mark fulfilled promises with dates in the margin of your Bible; let past answers fuel future confidence (Psalm 77:11-12). Promises We Can Pray • Salvation: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13) • Guidance: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.” (Psalm 32:8) • Provision: “My God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) • Presence: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5b) • Strength: “Those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength.” (Isaiah 40:31) • Peace: “You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3) • Resurrection hope: “Because I live, you also will live.” (John 14:19b) Common Misunderstandings • Assuming every desire equals a promise: Only what God has explicitly stated qualifies. • Ignoring conditions attached to certain promises (e.g., obedience, repentance). • Demanding timing or method: We pray for fulfillment, not control over God’s process. • Treating prayer as a formula: The power lies in the Promiser, not in our phrasing. Living the Lesson Daily prayers shaped by “Do as You have promised” cultivate steadfast faith, deepen Scriptural knowledge, and honor God’s unchanging integrity. As each promise moves from page to reality, our confidence grows: “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:20). |
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