Standing on the Promises of God
“Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.” Psalm 119:49-50
The psalmist’s cry here is a heartfelt plea, not born of doubt but of deep trust in the unshakable trustworthiness of God’s Word. In the midst of affliction, the psalmist clings to God’s promises, finding in them a lifeline of hope and comfort. This passage invites us to reflect on the certainty of God’s Word and the privilege we have as His children to hold Him to His promises—not in arrogance, but in humble, expectant faith.
God’s Word is not a collection of empty platitudes or guarantees of earthly prosperity. The Bible does not promise unending wealth or perfect health to the faithful. In fact, the psalmist himself declares later in Psalm 119:71, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.” Affliction, far from being a sign of God’s absence, can be a teacher that draws us closer to Him. Yet, God’s Word is filled with promises we can stand on—promises like Philippians 4:19, where He assures us that He will supply all our needs, or Romans 8:28, where He pledges to work all things for the good of those who love Him, or Psalm 23, where He promises to be our Shepherd through every valley. These are not demands we impose on God but anchors of hope we cling to in faith.
What is striking in Psalm 119:49-50 is the psalmist’s approach of praying God’s Word back to Him. For example, he pleads, “Remember your word to your servant.” He does this not because God forgets, but because God delights in His children taking His promises seriously.
As Charles Spurgeon beautifully said, “When we hear any promise in the word of God, let us turn it into a prayer. God’s promises are his bonds. Sue him on his bond. He loves that we should wrestle with him by his promises.”
God is not offended when we hold Him to His Word; rather, He invites us to engage with Him in this way, to “wrestle” with Him in prayer, trusting that He is faithful to fulfill what He has spoken.
This practice of praying God’s Word back to Him is transformative. It is, in essence, what it means to pray in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit makes God’s Word come alive in us, illuminating His promises, convicting us of sin, and revealing His holiness and love. We see this in Nehemiah’s prayer in Nehemiah 1, where he pleads with God based on His covenant promises to Israel. We see it in Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 9, where the Spirit moves him to confess sin and seek God’s mercy through the lens of Scripture. And we see it in Isaiah 6, where the Spirit reveals God’s holiness, leading to repentance and worship. The Spirit uses the Word to comfort us, as He does for the psalmist, giving life and hope even in affliction.
David Guzik notes, “God wants His people to plead His stated promises back to Him in prayer.” This is not about demanding our desires but about aligning our hearts with God’s will as revealed in His Word.
Spurgeon, reflecting on this, wrote, “But God – let us speak with reverence – when he gives a promise, binds himself with cords of his own making. He binds himself down to such and such a course when he says that such and such a thing shall be. Hence, when you grasp the promise, you get a hold on God.” What a privilege! When we pray God’s promises, we are not manipulating Him but anchoring ourselves to His unchanging character.
So how do we apply this truth? Open your Bible in prayer. Let the Spirit guide you to God’s promises and pray them back to Him. In moments of affliction, recall Psalm 23 and ask God to be your Shepherd. When you feel inadequate, claim Philippians 4:19 and trust Him to provide. When life feels chaotic, rest in Romans 8:28, knowing He is working for your good. God may deliver you from affliction, or He may comfort you in it, but either way, His Word will sustain you.
Father, I thank You for Your trustworthy Word, which gives me hope and life. Teach me to pray Your promises back to You, to wrestle with You in faith, and to trust Your faithfulness. Holy Spirit, make Your Word alive in me, convicting me, comforting me, and drawing me closer to You. I stand on Your promises, knowing You delight in fulfilling them for Your glory. Amen
The psalmist’s cry here is a heartfelt plea, not born of doubt but of deep trust in the unshakable trustworthiness of God’s Word. In the midst of affliction, the psalmist clings to God’s promises, finding in them a lifeline of hope and comfort. This passage invites us to reflect on the certainty of God’s Word and the privilege we have as His children to hold Him to His promises—not in arrogance, but in humble, expectant faith.
God’s Word is not a collection of empty platitudes or guarantees of earthly prosperity. The Bible does not promise unending wealth or perfect health to the faithful. In fact, the psalmist himself declares later in Psalm 119:71, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.” Affliction, far from being a sign of God’s absence, can be a teacher that draws us closer to Him. Yet, God’s Word is filled with promises we can stand on—promises like Philippians 4:19, where He assures us that He will supply all our needs, or Romans 8:28, where He pledges to work all things for the good of those who love Him, or Psalm 23, where He promises to be our Shepherd through every valley. These are not demands we impose on God but anchors of hope we cling to in faith.
What is striking in Psalm 119:49-50 is the psalmist’s approach of praying God’s Word back to Him. For example, he pleads, “Remember your word to your servant.” He does this not because God forgets, but because God delights in His children taking His promises seriously.
As Charles Spurgeon beautifully said, “When we hear any promise in the word of God, let us turn it into a prayer. God’s promises are his bonds. Sue him on his bond. He loves that we should wrestle with him by his promises.”
God is not offended when we hold Him to His Word; rather, He invites us to engage with Him in this way, to “wrestle” with Him in prayer, trusting that He is faithful to fulfill what He has spoken.
This practice of praying God’s Word back to Him is transformative. It is, in essence, what it means to pray in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit makes God’s Word come alive in us, illuminating His promises, convicting us of sin, and revealing His holiness and love. We see this in Nehemiah’s prayer in Nehemiah 1, where he pleads with God based on His covenant promises to Israel. We see it in Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 9, where the Spirit moves him to confess sin and seek God’s mercy through the lens of Scripture. And we see it in Isaiah 6, where the Spirit reveals God’s holiness, leading to repentance and worship. The Spirit uses the Word to comfort us, as He does for the psalmist, giving life and hope even in affliction.
David Guzik notes, “God wants His people to plead His stated promises back to Him in prayer.” This is not about demanding our desires but about aligning our hearts with God’s will as revealed in His Word.
Spurgeon, reflecting on this, wrote, “But God – let us speak with reverence – when he gives a promise, binds himself with cords of his own making. He binds himself down to such and such a course when he says that such and such a thing shall be. Hence, when you grasp the promise, you get a hold on God.” What a privilege! When we pray God’s promises, we are not manipulating Him but anchoring ourselves to His unchanging character.
So how do we apply this truth? Open your Bible in prayer. Let the Spirit guide you to God’s promises and pray them back to Him. In moments of affliction, recall Psalm 23 and ask God to be your Shepherd. When you feel inadequate, claim Philippians 4:19 and trust Him to provide. When life feels chaotic, rest in Romans 8:28, knowing He is working for your good. God may deliver you from affliction, or He may comfort you in it, but either way, His Word will sustain you.
Father, I thank You for Your trustworthy Word, which gives me hope and life. Teach me to pray Your promises back to You, to wrestle with You in faith, and to trust Your faithfulness. Holy Spirit, make Your Word alive in me, convicting me, comforting me, and drawing me closer to You. I stand on Your promises, knowing You delight in fulfilling them for Your glory. Amen