REMINDING GOD OF HIS PROMISES.

The key words in this sentence are Reminding, Promises and GOD. Reminding is the act by which somebody's attention is refocused on an issue. Promises are oaths, vows or affirmations; while GOD is the maker of the promises, oaths or vows in this context.

Therefore, when you remind GOD of His promises, you bring to His notice that not to forget the oath or vow or promise He had made concerning a particular situation. GOD's promises are numerous and they are intended for us. The LORD wants us to remind Him of these promises as occasion warrants. Hence He says in Isa 43:26, "Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified." He wants us to remind him of His promises. His promises are meant for us, in our life's journey and in all spheres of life, we need the fulfillment of God's promises. You are admonished to put the LORD in remembrance of His promises and not to keep silence.  Never be silent day or night and do not hold your peace, keep praying and keep reminding GOD until the promise is fulfilled. Isa 62:6.

Our strongest plea is to remind GOD of His promises. Echo back to Him what He promised. He says in Isa 55:11,"So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." Brethren, note that GOD is not slow in keeping His promise. 2 Peter 3:9a.

Sometimes our struggles and challenges make us feel we are alone. We think GOD is far away from us especially after we have prayed, fasted and nothing seems to be changing positively, we feel dejected and feel abandoned. No, it should not be. You have the privilege to express your feelings to GOD. Tell Him what you are passing through, present your case with humility, sincerity and faith. GOD is not preoccupied and His ears are not heavy. He is always ready to listen to us. The psalmist says we should pour our heart to Him, "Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for GOD is our refuge." Ps 62:8. Find a promise that fits your situation or challenges and build your prayers around it.

How do you remind GOD of His promises?

• By believing it and praying through it.
• Through praise and worship.
• By echoing it back to Him all the time and mentioning the promise appropriate to the situation or challenge.
• By reminding Him of the previously fulfilled promises in the life of people and nations.

Let us consider some characters in the Bible who have reminded GOD of His promises. Characters like Moses, Nehemiah and Jacob.

Moses put GOD in remembrance. Ex 32:11-14.

When Moses went to Mount Sinai to commune with GOD and to collect the two tablets of Testimony, the people he left with Aaron became impatient, agitated and thought Moses was not coming back. As a result, they asked Aaron to make them gods to worship and to sacrifice to. Aaron succumbed and used their earrings to make them a molten calf which they worshiped and made sacrifice to. He went ahead and presented the Calf and said, "these are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of  Egypt." Exo 32:9. 

GOD was so displeased with the people that He told Moses that He would consume them for going against His command by worshiping molten calf and for being stiff -necked. Moses sought the favour of his LORD and said "Why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, 'It was evil intent that He brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth'?. Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land  I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever." As soon as Moses reminded GOD of His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Israel concerning their descendants, GOD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster He had threatened.

He honored His word as soon as He was reminded.

Nehemiah  reminded GOD of his promises through prayer of remembrance. Neh 1:1-11.

GOD promised that, "He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; He will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth." Isa 11:12. And the Lord said, "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. And bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where  I have banished you, declares the LORD, and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile." Jer 29:10,12,14.

The Jews actually went into exile and were scattered all over. When Nehemiah heard that the Jews that were left in captivity were in great affliction and reproach, and that the wall of Jerusalem was broken and burned with fire he wept, mourned, fasted and prayed for some days. He recalled the sins of Israel and GOD's promise of restoration in the land. He exalted GOD and pleaded with Him to listen to his plea. Nehemiah was released by the king of Persia (who he was serving in the palace as his cupbearer) and he returned to Jerusalem as a governor. He got the support of the king and some others to rebuild the wall. The wall of  Jerusalem was rebuilt in fifty two days. GOD gave him success and victory despite discouragement from Sanballat and Tobiah. The exiles returned and GOD's promise of restoration in the land was fulfilled;  this was testified to in Neh 9:8, "You have kept your promise  because you are righteous." The land He promised Abraham's descendants was given to them."You made their children as numerous as the stars in the sky, and you brought them into the land that you told their parents to possess. Their children went in and took possession of the land." Neh 9:23.

Jacob reminded GOD of His promise to him. Gen 32:9,12.

The angel of GOD said to Jacob in a dream Gen 31:13, "I am the GOD of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land."

Jacob got this message after his relationship with Laban his father in-law had gone sour;  he planned to flee from his father in-law to go to the land promised him. He set out with his family, maids, servants and livestock. When he was about to meet his brother Esau (whom he supplanted) he was in great fear and distress. He sent messengers ahead of him with gifts to appease Esau. He then prayed and reminded GOD of His promise to him. Gen 32:9.11-12, "Then Jacob prayed, "O GOD of my father Abraham, GOD of my father Isaac, LORD, you who said to me,'Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper.' Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. But you have said, "I will surely make you prosper and will make you descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted."

GOD answered Jacob's  prayer and also fulfilled His promise. Esau his brother received him favorably and he got to Cannan safely with his family, entourage and livestock. He pitched his tent at Cannan and built an altar called El Elohe Israel.

Beloved, is there any situation or challenge you are passing through? Search for the appropriate promise in the Bible and faithfully pray it out to remind GOD. His promises are for you. The three characters discussed above reminded GOD of His promises and He fulfilled them. Our GOD honours His word.

Benefits of reminding GOD of His promises.

• It reassures us of GOD's love and care.
• It makes us realize how valuable we are to GOD and that we are His treasured possession.
• It enables us to focus on GOD rather than our challenges.
• It enables us to interact with GOD.
• It raises our hope.
• It drives away fears and doubt because He is ever faithful.
• It keeps us abreast of the word and reassures us that GOD can be trusted always.

Let us consider few of His Promises in various circumstances:

To a distressed nation:- 

2 Chr 7:14.The LORD says, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

In troubled and perilous times:-

Ps 91:15-16. The LORD has promised, "He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salivation."

In intense panic, fear and uncertainties:-

Isa 41:10, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy GOD: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will uphold  thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

Isa 41:13, "For I the LORD thy GOD will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

Isa 43:2-3a,"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD your GOD, the Holy One of Israel, your savior;"

In situations when we cannot comprehend :-

Jer 33:3, He has promised-"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Says the LORD.

Beloved, you are encouraged to go through the Bible to read the promises. His promises never grow old and they never  come late. Rely on His promises and with faith apply them to your situation. Num 23:19, "GOD is not human, that He should lie, not a human being that he should change his mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?" The promises are for you. Keep reminding Him, and do not relent.

Brethren, do you know that you can also remind GOD of what He has done before that is related to what you need Him to do concerning your case? Is it healing, restoration, provision, breakthrough, blessing, protection, fruitfulness, just name it. He is forever GOD, He changeth not and He is capable of repeating what He has done before.

Prayer.

Father, thank you for the promises. They are meant for me. Honour and fulfill them whenever I remind you of them in Jesus' name. Amen.