There are hundreds—if not thousands—of promises in the Bible for believers. Here are just a few well-known promises:
God said, “I will not leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5)
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)
“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” (Ps 37:4)
And 2 Corinthians 1:20 says, “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” When God’s promises are fulfilled in our lives, it brings God glory!
But have you ever wondered why your life doesn’t always reflect these promises? How do believers activate God’s promises in their lives? Is there some secret or formula involved? Well, yes, there is, sort of…
#1 – Maintain a Soft Heart
In Hebrews chapter 3, the writer reminds us about the children of Israel after He brought them out of Egypt. He explains how their hearts were hard and rebellious, they tested God, their hearts always wandered from Him, and they didn’t know His ways (Hebrews 3:7-11).
These were supposed to be the people of God! But because of their choices and hearts, God said, “They shall not enter My rest” (Hebrews 3:11b). This meant that they would never enter the Promised Land.
The Promised Land was the huge promise that God gave the Israelites—a land of their own—their inheritance—because they were God’s special, chosen people. But they forfeited this promise of God because of their hardened hearts.
Even Jesus’s disciples dealt with hard hearts: Mark 6:52 says, “For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.”
When we have hard hearts, we cannot understand God’s ways—it blinds us to what God is doing and saying.
Hebrews 3:7 urges us, “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” We too must keep a soft heart that is willing and open to hearing God’s voice if we want to inherit the promises of God.
If we want the promises of God to manifest in our lives, we must guard ourselves from rebellious attitudes and be sure to maintain a submissive heart toward God.
#2 – Reject Unbelief
Hebrews 3:12-13 continues, “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God … lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
Sin deceives us so that truth seems like a lie, and lies seem like the truth.
Don’t let sin derail you. Unbelief and doubt set in leading to hardness of heart. That’s what happened to the Israelites: even though they saw God’s mighty works and wonders, they still allowed their hearts to doubt God and to grow calloused toward Him and His ways.
If we are living in unbelief, we cannot expect to see the promises of God in our lives. God’s promises are available to believers, not doubters! Hebrews 3:18-19 says, “And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”
Believing and obeying God are keys to unlocking His promises! Remember, God rewards FAITH, not unbelief!
Hebrews 11:6 states, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
And this brings us to our final point.
#3 – Combine the Word (Promises) of God with Faith!
Hebrews 4:2 explains about the people of Israel, “For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.”
The children of God heard His word and promises, but they didn’t receive anything from God because they didn’t combine what they heard with faith. They never obtained what God promised them because they walked in unbelief instead of faith.
So what exactly is faith? Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Faith is believing that you already have what you’re hoping for; it’s pulling God’s promises from the spirit realm into the physical realm.
God puts His promises out there for anyone. Who will receive His promises?
Those who believe in faith that God is Who He says He is and that He’ll do what He’s said He’ll do – no matter what the circumstances around them look like – they believe and obey anyway.
Finally, unbelief and hardness of heart often go hand-in-hand. Jesus rebuked the disciples in Mark 16:14: “Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.” The hardness of their hearts was directly connected to their unbelief.
We too must be careful not to allow our hearts to harden or to let unbelief creep in. God’s promises are available to us if we’ll just believe in faith, obey and keep our hearts soft toward Him.
~ By Jennell Houts
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Comments(31)
Meeta Mukerjee says
September 6, 2017 at 8:18 amHighly inspirational matter! Appreciable content,easy to understand,source of comfort and consolation,Expertise in writing,guiding lamp,love to read the content.Keep it up! You are serving God’s kingdom in a special way.God bless you,your family.May all the unsaved souls be able to accept Jesus as their personal saviour earliest possible as The coming of Jesus is very near but many souls are still perishing and need to be saved.For non English speaking people of India,the content should be available in Hindi also to benefit maximum Indians.My best wishes,love and prayers for you.Amen! Please continue to send me your beautiful articles,I really am blessed with your articles.PRAISE Jesus!
Ruth Mutuku says
January 20, 2018 at 11:03 pmYour comment
very powerful summon
Jacklyn Jones says
August 6, 2021 at 5:03 amVery informative.
Geoffrey says
March 19, 2022 at 8:37 pmGreat
Randolph Franklin says
June 21, 2023 at 4:22 amJesus is Lord! Than!
Jennifer Jonas says
September 25, 2017 at 7:53 amI am really blessed with your article. So inspiring. More inspiration and anointing. More of it will appreciated.
Ruth Mutuku says
January 20, 2018 at 11:06 pmYour comment
Your messages as touched
me so much
Bobbie says
September 25, 2018 at 9:54 pmHow do you “believe”? Is it just a matter of “thinking” it so….or “imagining” it so? I know it’s a strange question, but I’m struggling with it.
cat says
April 1, 2019 at 12:05 amHi Bobbie, I struggle with the same thing you are. Have you found the answer? Thanks!
katalin farago says
October 11, 2019 at 1:55 amMark 9:23-25 “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” Your honesty isnt stupid, its wonderful. Try the movie, “Case for Christ.” Read a chapter from Paul everyday and apply what you read in your daily life once a day. If you have a problem ask google to throw up specific bible quotes about whatever issue you are facing like anxiety or whatever. Write down verses you like or need and keep it were you can see it. Simply tell God how you feel and ask him for help and advice, he will answer. And when you realize he answered you, you will be amazed and elated, just remember to say thank you. Go to him and he will come to you, God can be very active in a person’s life, he is not as invisible and out of reach as assumed by our secular culture. Dont pretend to be a “good” christian, speak to God honestly about your challenges, doubts, shortcomings. Many times I have been so distraught that I could barely utter a, “help jesus” I knew he would find me lost and stuck in the mud and that he would pull me out and he does, he always does. From these personal encounters time after time and studing the word your faith will grow big fat and indestructible.
Lucy says
December 26, 2020 at 8:32 pmGod kind of plants you with a knowing, like an inner knowing, when he wants to tell you or give you something, and you just know. It’s the evidence of things not seen, that he shows you that are real, true. Sometimes in dreams visions. Open visions. A word, a healing. So you just know, thats the belief, God confirms this. Always. Hope that helps
Francis Anzika mbinjikhane says
January 15, 2023 at 1:26 amThanks for this article. Actually hardened heart can not receive anything from God. Such hearts can not see anything Good.
Oh God create in me a soft heart.
Debbie says
January 16, 2021 at 2:04 amHi Bobbie, believing involves so many things. Speak with you mouth and accept with your heart that you believe in him. Furthermore, when you believe in something, you do as is required of you. Same way, if you believe in God and his ways, next thing is to please him. Do his will.Walk in righteousness, obey him, do what he requires from you, walk in spirit and not in flesh, accept him that he is your Lord and savior, do what he loves. So question is what does the Lord require of you? How do you walk in spirit and not in flesh? Be blessed!
Bior says
November 29, 2021 at 11:25 pmYou believe by meditating on the word of God
pastor morgan naidoo says
January 17, 2019 at 10:55 ami am blessed by your message i am from south africa
David says
January 30, 2019 at 2:13 pmI thank God for inspiring you to explaining this concept of faith in a totally different light. Joy filled my heart while reading through it. Thank you and may God bless you
Gregg Powers says
March 4, 2019 at 2:47 amthe key is that a true faith produces obedience. that is the reason that the Israelites did not enter the promised land. they did have belief.
Lule jane says
May 24, 2019 at 5:37 amAm so reminded thanks for the explanation
Giovanna Parker says
June 11, 2019 at 6:50 amThanks be to GOD that He never stops loving us, despite our faults, weaknesses and despite our own busy and sometimes distracting lives 🙁
Shanthi says
July 25, 2019 at 12:28 pmIts good to believe…
LinkOn ademola says
January 3, 2020 at 12:13 pmThis message is true
Nathan T. L. Zeogar says
November 11, 2020 at 6:11 pmI’m blessed with word of God, thanks so much for that
Chris Matthias says
December 16, 2020 at 10:00 pmAmazing, I am really inspired after reading this article. Remain blessed.
Marion muku u says
January 6, 2021 at 2:49 pmIt’s good to receive inspiration word
Sophy W.Paul says
October 6, 2022 at 3:28 amWhat a wonderful sermon with an incredible message.Be blessed
Gazemba Mwala says
February 4, 2021 at 4:11 pmAm touched by this ,learned more,and even got things to teach.Gods blessings to you
Kenneth Gray says
June 26, 2021 at 2:47 pmI have asked, pleaded, begged God to help me. I wouldn’t do these things unless I believe in God and Jesus. I gave myself to God through Jesus 40+ years ago. I have asked God for help with everything that is keeping Him from me. Alas though, God has never helped me with anything. At least nothing I know about. Reading the Bible just makes things worse. I read and see everything that God isn’t doing. God promises to be here for us but never is. Matthew 7: 8 hasn’t proven God’s word is incorrect. I ask but don’t receive, I seek but never find, I knock and nothing opens. I just feel that if God makes a promise He should keep it regardless. Why is God completely ignoring me?
Thanks and God bless you, in Jesus holy name, Amen.
Kenneth Gray says
June 26, 2021 at 2:51 pmSorry,…… Matthew 7: 8 has proven God’s word is incorrect.
Sorry for the mix up. God bless you, in Jesus holy name, Amen.
Draughon says
November 7, 2021 at 6:28 amFor me personally I have found that it is essential to confess sin and repent. Totally honest confession. Christians don’t rob banks but if we are resentful or fail to forgive then God patiently waits on us to confess our unloving ways to confess harboring grudges or feelings of jealousness etc etc. Hope this helps. Read Daniel’s prayer of confession and King David’s prayer of confession – Psalm 50 I think.
sharon says
January 21, 2022 at 8:30 amthanks for the word,am blessed receive it.
Chris says
January 10, 2025 at 10:13 amThank for sharing, it gives insight.