The Bible tells us that the promises of God are yea and amen! That is to say that you can count on what God promises. When God says I will bless you you can count on that; when he says you will make it, you can count on that.
The Apostle however teaches us to war good warfare by the prophecy which is gone ahead of us. There are however times when praying about the promises is so difficult; especially when you have done things that make you feel guilty and condemned.
Jacob was escaping from his brother, after lying to his father. He came to a place and the night lighted upon him. It was dark and night fell. He had to spend time at Beth-el and God spoke to him in a dream. The Lord made him great and mighty promises because he had a heart that had respect for sacred things. Esau was a profane person and a fornicator, but Jacob has respect for sacred things.
God made him a promise and he had to pray about the promises, but he could only pray in uncertainty. It is possible to have faith and still lack the confidence; not in you but God. Jacob was on the journey and had God with him because he pleased his father and mother. You need your father’s heart!
[Genesis 28:10-17 KJV] “And Jacob went out from Beer–sheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.“
“And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.”
“And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.”
“And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.”
“And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said” Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven”
It is not enough to dream and hear the voice of God. You must pray about it. You must wear good warfare! You must be willing to respond to the things God tells you in a way. Jacob prayed earnestly about the promise and prophecies he received.
[Genesis 28:20-22 KJV] “And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee. “
I don’t know what God is telling you or ministering to your spirit. You may have your doubts and uncertainty, because of your failings and faults and weakness; but God does not look at your past or present; he looks at your heart. Jacob shows us how we can pray the prayer of prophecy even when we have doubts.
As we step into the coming days and years; you need to sow the seed of prayer. Remember that we are exhorted to be content with what to eat and to wear. Jacob was therefore guided and he prayed this kind of prayer. He prayed that
- The Lord may be with him
- The Lord may keep him in the way he goes
- The Lord may give him what to eat and what to wear
- The Lord may guide and keep him when he is coming back to his father’s house
He then made a vow that he will in return serve the Lord as his God, build his house, and pay a tithe of all of his increase.
Jacob asked for God’s presence, God’s protection, God’s provision, and God’s leading and peace. In return, he was promising to
- Serve the Lord
- Build his house
- Pay his tithes
We can learn these lessons. I don’t think we should pray for many things; God will honor his word but we must pray for wisdom to keep books and plan to spend! You don’t need to pray for a car or house or anything else.
Just pray for God’s presence, protection, and provision of food and raiment; then plan the surplus! God will not give you a house; you plan and save towards the house. Just work for the basic needs of life and as God blesses you, you will get the rest. Just be committed to serving the Lord as your God, build him a house of praise and a sanctuary of thanksgiving, and pay your tithes!
I love you
