›› The Promises Package

1. Read the following texts to strengthen your faith that God will keep any promise He had made: Numbers 23:19, Joshua 23:14, Psalms 89:34, Isaiah 46:11, Jeremiah 33:3, Matthew 24:35, Hebrews 6:18, Hebrews 10:23, 2 Peter 3:9.
   
   
2. Choose one of the nine verses in step 1. Copy it onto a 3x5-inch card. Place it where you can see it several times during the day. Let it remind you that God can be trusted to keep His promises.
   
   
3. Make a list of your needs. Include your spiritual, social, mental, and emotional needs as well as your physical needs.
   
   
4. Choose one of the needs. Try to think of a promise that meets that need. Use a concordance to help you. Will one of the following promises help? Proverbs 3:6, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 49:25, Malachi 3:10-11, Luke 11:13, Philippians 4:13, Philippians 4:19, James 1:5, 1 John 1:9.
   
   
5. Ask. Ask God to give you the thing that He has promised. Be specific in your request.
   
   
6. Believe. Put your finger on the promise. Read the promise back to God and tell Him that you believe He will do as He has said He will do, since He is a God who does not lie.
   
   
7. Claim. Thank God that you already have the thing that He has promised. Rejoice in His goodness in giving you that gift.
   
   
8. Repeat steps 4 through 7 for each need on your prayer list.
   
   
9. Check off each item as you see the visible evidence of God’s answer to that prayer. You may want to write a date or other brief notes as each answer is received. Try doing this with a different-colored pen.
   
   
10. Go on a promises hunt. Get a red pencil (or any other color you choose) and read through the Bible, looking for promises that are meaningful to you. Underline the promise in the color of your choice. In the margin, write one or two words that identify what the text promises.
    
    
11. Make a notebook collection of promises. At the top of the page write such words as: forgiveness, joy, protection, financial needs, wisdom, patience, etc. As you locate new promises, copy them into your notebook under the correct heading. Alphabetize the headings for easy reference.
    
    
12. Make a card-file collection of promises. Copy special promises onto 3x5-inch index cards. Put one word at the top right-hand corner that tells you the topic of that promise. Alphabetize the promises by topics. This will help you find a promise instantly to fit your needs.

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Source: Dorothy Eaton Watts. Prayer Country: A Tour Guide to the Wonders of Prayer. Pacific Press Publishing Association, Boise, Idaho, 1993.