Big

 The old saying goes everything is bigger in Texas. We love big. Big ranches. Big muscles. Big houses. Big bank accounts. Big trucks. Big tales. Big symbolizes Texas in many ways. We are fascinated with big. 

What is bigger than God. He is not only big, but He is the biggest. Nothing supersedes Him. He is the biggest of all. His power is big. His intelligence is big. His presence looms big on a planet breaking down on every level. He is big enough to still be in control during the chaotic times. He is big enough to maintain control over the affairs of current world events. He is big. 

Because He is big, it stands to reasons that His followers should pray big prayers. Honestly, is there a big prayer that any of could pray to Him. They may look big to us. I assure you they are not big to Him. He is bigger. His power is bigger than the biggest prayer we could ask or even imagine. This is part of the point of Ephesians 3:20. He is able to answer big prayers. He is capable of doing more than we can ask or think. We should pray big. Why?

Because God is big, the biggest, we should prayers worthy of Him. Granted, not every prayer is going to be a big prayer. We should not shy away from praying big prayers. They bring God big glory and that is what God desires. He wants His people to constantly boast about how big and powerful He is. God is all about glorifying Himself. Some might think that is egocentric. Not in the least. Not only is God the biggest thing in the universe, he is also the best thing in the universe. None compare to Him. Since He is the biggest and best, God knows the He is most worthy of praise and He is the best thing for people. Therefore, He wants to be praised, exalted, and honored so others will come to know Him. 

One way this happens, is when God does big things in answer to prayer. When He moves a mountain, heals a disease, meets a need, saves the lost, showing Himself faithful. I Thess 5:24. God is glorified by delivering His children out of impossible odds. Exodus 14:1-31. He is glorified when He does what experts say cannot be done. Luke 5:1-11. Mark 5:25-34. 

God is big. The biggest in fact. Let us pray big prayers. When He answers, let us give Him big glory. 

Right now I am praying some big prayers. Praying for God to pay my house off so I am not enslaved to debt. I am praying for three vehicles for my family. We have a son who has never had one and two others are old and in disrepair, and we are looking for something more dependable. I made a vow to God I would never go in debt on a vehicle again. I am forced to pray big prayers. Prayers that will bring Him big glory. He has done it before. I trust He will do it again. 

I have seen God answer big prayers in the past. Many times over. He got big glory for them. I look forward to doing that again in writing and preaching. He is a big God. Bigger than anything I face. Bigger than anything you face. Pray big prayers and watch Him do big things. Then, give Him big glory in response. 

So Much I Don't Understand

There is probably no topic I have studied more, other than God and Jesus, than the subject of prayer. I became fascinated with this in college. I got turned onto some authors like Leonard Ravenhill and E.M. Bounds who opened up a whole other world of prayer than I knew existed. 

My library is filled with dozens of books on prayer. Some of those books I continue to read over and over again. I listen to sermons on prayer. I try to practice prayer personally. I am a continuous student in God's school of intercession. I still get frustrated because I do not know how to pray as effectively as I would like. 

That was over 30 years ago I first investigated prayer back in college. Since that time, I continued to study the scriptures about prayer. I rad voraciously people like Andrew Murray, Rees Howells, Jim Cymbala, and my favorite, George Mueller. Each showed me something new. God used them to point me to different dimensions of prayer. 

Now I have to say there is so much about prayer and how it moves God to work I still do not understand. One thing I know for certain when it comes to prayer, it is never a question of whether God is able to answer or not. Gen 18:14, Jer 32:17 and Matt 19:26 settle that. It is a matter of whether God is wiling to answer. Does it please Him to answer. Does He desire to grant us what we ask. This is further iterated in I Jn 5:14-15, which I quote often when preaching, teaching, or writing about prayer. 

Even knowing all of that, there is so much I do not understand. Many times I have been left scratching my head wondering what went wrong when I thought I knew the will of God on matters and I prayed Bible promises. The desired outcome did not come, sometimes after years and years of fervent prayer. Many prayers I've brought before God in petition have still not been answered other than the message to wait. 

I know the key is all bound up in what He wills.  Learning to pray His will is crucial. Of course that means discerning His will in the first place. Truth be told I have often not prayed in accordance with His will. I allowed my own personal desires to influence what I convinced myself was His will. Many times I have prayed amiss and been left with empty hands and a wounded faith. 

That is something I am working on doing better. I want to be much more deliberate about discerning His will when I pray. Of this I am convinced. God desires to glorify Himself through a praying church that bears much fruit. Jn 5:7-8. I fall way short. I still have much to learn. I am eager to learn it. 

It should be our aim to pray prayers that God wills to answer and that will glorify Him. Tonight, with God's help, I want to unpack a tremendous verse on prayer. You can tune in on the Spring Creek Baptist Church in Weatherford, TX facebook page. An easier way is to go to myspringcreek.org and click on the facebook link. We will start at 6:30 and do a deep dive into this mystery of prayer. I hope you are able to join us.