Tuesday, September 6, 2011

PRAY BIG...

PRAY BIG...



This is a wall in our son and daughter in law's home, and the minute I saw it I loved it. They have the sign right next to a huge clock and the whole thing struck a chord.



What does it mean to pray big??

I'm pretty sure it doesn't mean praying for huge ideas of 'pie in the sky' stuff, although I do pray for the things that are the desires of my own heart, and once in awhile I know that I veer off into praying for things that are sort of like cotton candy... even then... I know He understands.



No, I think PRAY BIG means to pray KNOWING that our God is able to answer BIG requests, BIG needs, BIG concerns, BIG problems. The BIG things that are part of our lives, the things that are way beyond what we know how to solve... the BIG things.



Sometimes I pray big, and then after time passes, and the answer didn't come the way I had hoped, it fades out, and I sort of stick a 'please Lord' onto the conversation I am having with Him, after I've wrung my hands and pleaded for His help. I am sure I have stopped short of His answer when I didn't see it come the way I thought it would, or when I thought it would.



But maybe it's even more than this.



Maybe PRAY BIG means 'go ahead, stand straight up and trust that He is going to answer this!'



I think it means that my PRAY BIG is backed by all of the promises of a God who IS big! He has said 'go for it'... trust me with it... trust me for the answer! You can PRAY BIG because I am a BIG GOD!



30 comments:

Sandy said...

I agree that He is a BIG, BIG GOD and He
wants us to PRAY BIG so He can ANSWER BIG!
He has proven Himself to me over and over
and over again that nothing is too big or
too hard for Him!
Hugs~

GwendolynKay said...

Dear Sonja,
I love your daughter in law's decor! I love the thought to pray big! Praise God he can handle any size prayer.
Blessings and hugs~

Farm Girl said...

I think that too, He is a big God so we do need to pray big, but I would like to add, and have Big Trust!
Have a wonderful week

Barb said...

Hi Sonja, I really like your blog and your reflections. The fact that you speak of prayers impresses me so. I think God is happy when we talk to Him about anything. I do know that He is always listening.

Have a blessed day,
Barb ♥

Debbie said...

I love this sign! It is just perfect. We can never out give God so we might as well PRAY BIG!! It made me think of the verse in Ephesians that I soo love...."Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us!!" Doesn't get much bigger. Have a wonderful day. HUGS

Felisol said...

Dear Sonja,
I guess I always pray big, but then I take my own precautions as well, in case God and I shouldn't see things the same way....
How difficult it is to relay totally upon the Lord alone.
Especially since he gives by just enough for one day at a time, my daily Manna.
Looking back I can witness; till this day the Lord has kept his promises.
I have to trust his Grace will be renewed for this night and tomorrow as well.
From felisol

Saleslady371 said...

What stood out to me is the last point. I keep thinking how nothing is impossible for Him and sometimes He gives me a prayer assignment that seems "too big" to hope for even though I know the answer would be His will according to scripture, and then He shows me Jesus in the gospels and His delight in those who trusted Him for miracles.

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

Oh I remember a teaching years ago about "Big God"...I think this goes along the same line, when it all comes down to it, "Pray Big" is because we have a "Big God"...we would see each other struggling and say, "Big God"
This momma needed this reminder...I am "Praying Big" and standing up against the lies of the enemy to see my "Big God" work His way in the situation.

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

Oh I love her wall...she has a subway sign there on the left...I have been looking for one I liked

I did find a treasure at Canton this weekend...it contains words! The artist is based out of Denton...now if I knew that I could have saved the gas.

myletterstoemily said...

i love this! it must make you SO happy to see
your son and daughter in law pray big but
also proclaim it big for all to see.

sounds like some big parenting!

Marsha Young said...

So true - when it does not come about when we thought it should and how we thought it would - well, I too am reduced to "Please Lord." :)

Right now I am praying on something that is about "as big as it gets" and sometimes I am just whimpering, "please Lord." I read once that all prayers can be reduced to one word "HELP !"

Rita said...

Sonja, thank you for this encouraging post today. I so desparately needed this as we are dealing with all the fires around us. HE is a BIG God and can do anything, even if it isn't in our time or our way.

BARBIE said...

I love her decor. Simply beautiful. I thinking praying big is praying with faith and trust, knowing that God will answer.

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

AND FAITH is when there is NOTHING LEFT, so what have you got to loose to pray for the biggest possible outcome? ALL THE MORE TO GAIN.....thank you, Sonja! Anita

Anonymous said...

I am guilty of praying little :(

Just Be Real said...

Very interesting Sonja. I like the concept. What a reminder. Blessings.

Debbie said...

Well, first, I love her wall! I'm in the hunt for wall inspiration. And second, I love her message. I stand with you in that praying BIG to me is more about the bigness of God than the bigness of the expectation or request. I think praying big can also mean praying the "big picture". Praying in such a way that you know that God sees it ALL and knows it ALL and controls it ALL and is working all things together toward that big picture.

But I also love the idea that I CAN ask a big thing if that's what is in my heart because my God is BIG enough to do whatever I ask, and he will do it if it's in His will.

Here's my burden and confession: Too often I pray big but really expect too "little" because I have the attitude that the LORD fully CAN but he won't. Sigh.

Deborah Ann said...

Love the decor! Love the reminder to pray big too. For me, that usually means to start praying for the little things first, so my faith can grow wings and fly out the window.

P.S. Missed you too...

Sharon said...

Great message!

Yes, we worship a BIG God - a God who is ABLE to do abundantly, exceedingly far beyond anything we could hope or think.

He does tell us to approach Him boldly. So, I'm standing up with you - as tall as I can - and I'm going to start praying for the big stuff!

GOD BLESS!

Lea @ CiCis Corner said...

What a wonderful entry, so full of truth that I need to be reminded of at this time in my life. Blessings to you!

Maryann said...

Love the Big clock and Pray Big sign, perfect together. Pray big, I think your last sentence kind of says it, pray big because its backed by all the promises of God who is big. I also pray for a BIG picture mentality when I pray

Beth Herring said...

i love that sign - PRAY BIG! i need one. i remember Beth Moore saying once, "we receive little because we believe little".... if we started praying and believing BIG, we would receive BIG!

Anonymous said...

Love the idea of praying big - and nothing is too small to pray for because our God is 'big' too!
Andie

Kathleen said...

As I read through your post I saw myself as both a lioness and a mouse. Sometimes my prayers seem to have all the power & volume of a roar. At other times, I think they must seem to God as a squeak; barely audible. Odd how that itty bitty mouse has a way of silencing that incredibly ferocious feline.

I need to PRAY BIG more. It means I have to think big, then believe big first.

Such a good post, Sonja.

Debbie said...

I'm back to say that this post really stuck with me. In fact, I have a big burden that I have started praying more "big" (bigger?) about. I think I have really been praying too small.

Patrinas Pencil said...

it can also mean to pray with Earnest - as in

James 5:16 "The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results."

also

Philippians 4:6 Do not be over-anxious about anything, but by prayer and earnest pleading, together with thanksgiving, let your request be unreservedly made known in the presence of God. (WEY)

I think praying BIG has something to do with KNOWING God. Relational communication involves Earnest, fervent, unreserved speech - and so it is in relationship with God.

Knowing God - means that one KNOWS His unwavering promises, as you stated, and His ultimate AUTHORITY. So praying BIG would also involve praying with the God given AUTHORITY in which we are commanded to walk in, as sons and daughters of the KING.

As Elaine said in her post "Get UP'! Stop living off the grace of others. Get up and follow Jesus. His salvation is available to all. Are we sitting by the road - living off the grace of others, or are we walking out our faith and following Jesus.

If we don't know our authority in Christ - we may find ourselves living off the grace of others - and will more than likely pray little and pray little prayers.

I actually have christian friends that say to me "Please pray.....because you're better at it than me....God answers your prayers"

These are prime examples of "Praying little" - They aren't familiar with their authority in Christ.

Good food for thot sister Sonja
Hugs,
Patrina <")>><

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Big and sincere hugs to you dear sister in Christ, Anita

Debbie Petras said...

This is a good reminder for me. It also helped me when I read your father's book. Claiming the promises of God and trusting Him is something I hadn't been doing.

Much love,
Debbie

LisaShaw said...

"Maybe PRAY BIG means 'go ahead, stand straight up and trust that He is going to answer this!'"

CAN YOU HEAR ME SHOUT AMEN?!!!! Wow, you blew me off the seat with this one because I SO agree and can totally relate to a lot of what you shared!

Loving our Big God and daring to believe all that He says!!

Much love as we PRAY BIG!

Andrea said...

AMEN...I LOVE IT!
Pray Big!! is all about our HEAVENLY FATHER and what HE is doing in and through our prayers.
Hugs,
andrea