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Scripture Reading:    Matthew 21:22;

                                  Philippians 4:6,7

It is popular these days to "claim" the great prayer promises of Scripture, regardless of to whom these promises were addressed. For example, we read in Matthew 21:22, "And al things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." This is certainly a remarkable promise, and countless thousands have attempted to claim it as their own. However, many have experienced great disappointment and conclude that "the Bible just doesn't work." Others undergo spiritual depression as well meaning "friends" tell them that the "just didn't have enough faith." In  few cases, some have even turned against God, concluding that He went back on His promise.

The solution to all these problems, of course, is to "rightly divide the word of truth." Christ's promise to His disciples in Matthew's gospel pertained specifically to them as participants in the kingdom program for Israel. God's prayer promises to the Body of Christ in this dispensation are found in Paul's epistles, and in these, we never read that God will give us whatever we ask. Rather, God promises us that when we truly leave our requests with Him, "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). Sometimes God's withholding of what we ask is actually a blessing in disguise, "for we know not what we should pray for as we ought" (Romans 8:26). Who knows what trouble we would heap to ourselves if we got everything that we asked for? But praise God, He gives peace to the trusting child!