When My Prayers Are Puny

So often when I pray, I feel like such a slackard. Like God has too much to do and too many people to look after than to worry about my dorky issues.

My perspective changed when a life-changing question was posed to a group of us last week.

If God said He would answer every prayer you prayed in the last week, just as you had asked Him,  would your prayers have been too small?

God is so much bigger than my little brain can even comprehend. Why don’t I pray bigger? He can handle it.

I read a Bible passage recently that confirmed the question asked of us last week.

Maybe you have heard of King Ahaz of Judah. I had not.

Isaiah was a prophet.  In Isaiah 6, Isaiah had actually seen the Lord seated on a throne the year Ahaz’ s grandfather King Uzziah died. Fast forwarding a few years into Isaiah 7, Uzziah’s grandson Ahaz was now King of Judah. He was afraid to march with the King of Israel and the King of Aram to fight against Jerusalem.

The Lord told Isaiah to tell King Ahaz to stay calm, not to be afraid and not to lose heart.  It seemed like Ahaz may not have believed Isaiah. So the Lord then said to Ahaz:

“’If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’  Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, ‘Ask the Lord Your God for a sign. Whether in the deepest depths or the highest heights.’ Isaiah 7:9b-11

Guess how King Ahaz responded?

“But Ahaz said, ‘I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.’ “ Isaiah 7:12

Can you believe how Ahaz responded? But haven’t we all not asked because we were afraid to put God to the test?

“Then Isaiah said, ‘Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of MY God also? Therefore the Lord himself  will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.’” Isaiah 7:13-14.

The Lord and the prophet Isaiah were trying desperately to tell this stubborn King Ahaz that the Savior of the whole world Jesus was going to be born from his tribe of Judah, from David’s lineage!

The Lord wanted Ahaz to pray for anything, from the lowest  of prayers to the highest, the biggest prayers.

Jesus’ birth would be the answer to all his problems! Just like He’s the answer to all of our problems.

God doesn’t promise that our problems go away. He does promise that He is with us, just like He was with King Ahaz. After all, Immanuel means “God with us.”

God wants a relationship with us.  He desires for us to talk with Him about everything on our heart.  That’s what He wants—our heart.

So let’s pour our hearts out to God in prayer. Tell Him anything. Ask for anything.

He will answer all of our prayers, big or small, in one of three ways: 1) Yes; 2) No; 3) Not now.

Life alters when we go to the altar.

Pray Big. Put God to the test.  He is ready.  Expect miracles.

Reflect:

When is the last time you prayed big?  Please comment.

How will your prayers change now?  Please comment.

Renew:

–“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. “ –Romans 8:26 NIV

–“Pray continually.” –1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIV

–“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” –Hebrews 4:15-16 NIV

Recharge:

–Plan each day to set aside intentional prayer time with the Lord. Then pray throughout the day.

–Set aside a  quiet “prayer space” (closet, a “Prayer Chair,” the bathroom, etc) where you can be more focused and less distracted.

–Remember, “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.”