Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession. (Psalm 2:8)
Read: Genesis 3:1-4:26, Matthew 2:13-3:6, Psalm 2:1-12, Proverbs 1:7-9
Relate: I don’t often get interrupted when I am praying. Even if someone else in my hearing might not be in “agreement” with what I am praying, I honestly can’t remember anyone stopping me mid prayer. I have had people come say something afterwards. I have even had someone pray pretty much the opposite as soon as I was done. But I can only remember one time being interrupted mid prayer.
“OK, OK stop. Just… stop.” My voice tapered off and I looked up sheepishly at my professor. I say sheepishly because I wasn’t really sure what the protocol was here. There were five or six of us all together in a group and we were all praying over some current event or situation. Honestly, I can’t remember what it was now. I just remember looking up at my professor who was waiting for me to make eye contact. As soon as I did he continued, “Just ask Him for what you need. You don’t need to apologize for asking something you believe is in His will and you certainly don’t need to hedge your prayer with all those ‘maybe, possibly, if it is Your will.’ Ask Him boldly. If He says no, He says no. But if you keep praying like that, you’ll never get anything.” With that my professor closed his eyes, ducked his head, and waited for me to get on with a real prayer.
React: I learned an important lesson that day. James says, we don’t have because we do not ask. James also says when we ask we must not doubt. Hebrews says let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence. Then here in Psalms we read, “Ask and I will give the nations as Your inheritance.” When I was praying that day, I didn’t believe God was going to answer. I didn’t want to pray bold because if I didn’t get the answer I was asking for, it might reflect bad back on me. I was hedging my prayer to cover my doubts and protect from disappointment.
I still tend to do that. When I first moved to Istanbul, I felt God was asking me to pray a big prayer that has never been seen in a Muslim country. He gave me a number and a time. Every time I heard the local Mosques ringing out their call to prayer, I was to ask God for it. It is hard to pray something 4-5 times a day that in my flesh I don’t ever think will happen. It is hard to pray specifically for someone’s complete healing while they are dying. It is even harder when you have prayed for others in the past… and still they died.
But then I remember the simple prayer that was prayed over me one afternoon. “God, I don’t think You want him to have asthma anymore. Please heal him. Amen.” That was it. I didn’t believe it one bit. But that was nearly two years back and I have had multiple opportunities to see how God has completely healed me. Goodness, I’ve woken up to find a cat sleeping on my chest. It was a simple prayer, but it was a big bold specific prayer. What will I be praying for in 2016? How about you? How much bigger do we need to make our ask?
Respond:
Like the epileptic’s father, God, I come to You saying ‘I believe, help my unbelief.’ I know that I know that I know that You can do whatever I ask. I just have some problems sometimes with whether You will. Give me the courage to pray bigger. Give me the audacity to ask bigger and then leave it in Your hands. Help me to avoid that tendency to hedge my prayers as a means of protecting myself from disappointment. Help me this year to expect more and ask bigger from You. Don’t let me dishonor You with the same weak, visionless requests.
THE RIVER WALK 
Seek…and you shall find….;)
Reblogged this on Church Set Free and commented:
Omigosh! I cannot help but reblog this! I have never interrupted a student or congregant in the midst of their prayer… I’ve never had the courage. But Lord knows I have wanted to… for precisely this reason.
Bless that professor! I admire his integrity. This is a WONDERFUL post with which to open this year!
Grace to you all! — LM
such a good reminder.
What a terrific post. I’ve reblogged this. I hope you have kept that Professor on speed dial as a mentor. I admire him for his integrity, and you for your transparency in sharing this. Thanks to you both, and to the Spirit we all serve! Grace — LM
Dr Purdy graduated to heaven a couple years back but I am honored to have been able to learn so much from him.
Here is a promise we have in God’s word. This year let’s pray and believe it:
Everyone on this earth will remember you, LORD.
People all over the world will turn and worship you, because you are in control, the ruler of all nations (Psalm 22:27-28, CEV).
Out of all your posts, this is by far my favorite.
Reblogged this on ChristianBlessings and commented:
Your problem can never be bigger than God. Do you believe that? Then pray as if your God is bigger than your problem. Do not limit Him by your own answer to your prayer.
Love love this
Sent from my iPad
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My favorite too!!!
Reblogged this on There's Something About Mary and commented:
Had to reblog, this is a game changer for 2016!
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Beejai, what a blessing this is, and a wonderful reminder of just how BIG our God is. Thank you.
A wonderful and MUCH needed reminder that our asking is WAY TOO SMALL! Thank you! I’m sharing this on my bog: http://www.momentarymusings.com, if that’s okay.
Always. Feel free to reblog, quote, plagarize, or steal any ideas anytime.
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That’s why it is called faith… we pray for the miracle that we can’t bring about in our flesh. It is only through the spiritual realm and the grace and mercy of our God!
awesome…. so spot on !
Oh, my friend, what a challenge and encouragement that this is. I do this so often and also recognize it when other people pray. I never put much thought to it other than think there was something amiss when I said “If it be your will”. Thank you for the challenging words and reminder!
This has recently been brought to my attention in my prayer life. We are to pray bold prayers because we serve a God who is bold. I doubt myself so much when I pray because I think “God won’t answer, he has bigger problems to deal with.” It’s incredible that he does care and loves us deeply. Praise him for listening to what our hearts desire.
Lord do whatever Beejai asks, in Jesus’ name, because that is a heart that listens to You and speaks to me. Awesome post for me to run across tonight. Thank you.
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I love it. I totally need that and am owning it. Thanks Beejai
A wonderful reminder that He is so much bigger than I ever give Him credit for. And not praying big –hedging my prayers should He choose to say no–doesn’t honor who He is at all. I really needed this one, my friend. Thank you.
Reblogged this on I love the Psalms and commented:
These thoughts on prayer are most certainly worth reading.
Reblogged this, Beejai.
Great Post Beejai, thank you 🙂
Its not the size of your request but the size of your faith. The question is, so YOU believe that you have already received what you are asking for? And if you are praying back HIS promises to HIM, then you have every reason to receive it. Remember, HIS Promises do not return to HIM void. The Lord said, “If your faith is as big as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Dig yourself up and plant yourself in the ocean!’ And the tree will obey you. Luke 17:6 ERV
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Thanks for sharing! I love it!
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Thank you for the much needed reminder to PRAY BIG!!
Reblogged this on Trutherator's Weblog.
So many testimonies from my years as full-time missionary and since.
It got to be a daily occurrence, but I took it for granted. Write down those testimonies of answered prayer and share them for the glory of God!
Yes! & 1 of my fav songs too!
Reblogged this on #1 | LogonPoint.
James chap. 5, speaks of Elders who already know God’s will in healing, where they can pray the “Prayer of Faith over a person, not a mere request, but (a vow of faith). God is a big God, big prayers are easy for him to answer, but are you willing to fight the spiritual battle against the things that would hinder the manifestation of your request after you pray? God bless and I hope 2016 will be an exceptional year of God’s manifested power in your life.
I appreciate finding another daily blogger, helping to spread God’s Word. God bless you!
So true – thank you BJ for sharing. We can be so insecure about asking God for what we want, and in so doing we insult Him!
thanks for sharing this……a big part of me wish i started following this blog from inception, but alas am here
And I am glad you are. Welcome.