Should We Be 'Proof-Texting' God?

While driving through the Ozarks for a rare day of fly fishing on my favorite trout stream, I read this on a church sign:
 
“Search God's Word for Promises that Match Your Requests;
and then Remind Him of What He Promised.”
 
I probably should have just kept my mind on the prospect of a great day on the trout stream, but I seem to be powerless to overlook my tendency to read things some people say about God and His word, and then think to myself, “Huh?”
 
Is this really how we are supposed to feed ourselves on God's living, life-giving Word? 
Are we really supposed to decide all the things we would like for God to give us and then look for out-of-context "proof texts" to justify our asking for them? 

Is it wise for me to think of myself as the one who should be reminding the Sovereign God of what I think He has “promised”? 
​
Does He have a memory problem such that He needs us to remind Him of what He inspired people to write in His name??

Read More