My Bible is filled with notes, highlighting, and little stars next to my favorite scriptures, especially God’s choice promises for blessing and prosperity. I love to hear that the “wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous” (Proverbs 13:22) and that “no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper” (Isaiah 54:17) to name just a couple.

I have to laugh at myself though for the scriptures I don’t highlight or make any pretense of claiming. Certain promises of God can just lay there in the book — thanks, but no thanks Lord.

Here’s one I like to pass over quickly: “‘If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you'” (John 15:20) Ouch! And then who prays for this: “It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?” (Hebrews 12:7) Discipline? No way am I claiming God will shower me with that!

I’m not the only one you know. I’ve noticed other people who seem to have “selective memory” when it comes to certain promises of God. Listen the next time someone quotes or preaches on Revelation 12:11. “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony.” Yes? Yes? Is that all? Doesn’t it end with: “and they did not love their life even to death“?

The next time you decide to claim all of God’s promises for your own stop and think what ALL means. For myself, I’ll be satisfied with a selective sampling!