We all know that we should pray, but what exactly should we be praying for? What is it that God wants us to pray for? The disciples pulled Jesus aside and asked him this very question. And his answer may surprise you. In fact, when you compare your prayers to what Jesus had to say, you may find that you've come to emphasize the wrong things. It could be that your prayers are too small.
When you pray, what do you find yourself praying for? Please help me not to be late. Please, just help me pass this next test. Lord, I really need to close this deal. Ultimately, what does it all add up to? Is there anything in your prayers for which you really need God to come through? Is there anything that you are praying for on a consistent basis that will not happen unless God steps in? How should your prayer time change based on what we've discussed?
What are you praying for thats big?
Bobby
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9 comments:
First off, I have to say what a great message this was to watch. Andy puts a very complicated aspect of faith into perspective for anyone, whether you have prayed your whole life, or never prayed at all.
For me personally, I have found myself praying for bigger things in my life. I have never had a pattern of praying every night or every morning, but instead I have, in the past, prayed at times when I most feel the need to ask for something big. Right now, I pray for several "big" things. Auburn Church has truly changed my life and has helped me grow as a Christian since I started attending services. Not only have I become a better follower of Christ, but I have become a better person as a whole. I pray for God to allow people just like me to be able to find a church like this one and finally feel the connection that I have with their faith. I pray that Auburn Church will only grow bigger and bigger and reach out to even more college students in the Auburn area. I also pray for my well-being. I know that I face challenges in life in order to learn and to grow from them. Recently things have happened to me that are out of my control, and I have found myself asking God to lead me in the right direction and to give me strength to wake up every day and overcome my struggles. I also pray for the strength and courage to forgive those who have hurt me or challenged me in life. The biggest thing I pray for, however, and this is a daily prayer, is for me to continue to grow in faith no matter what life throws at me. Sometimes our faith is challenged and even made fun of, especially in college where there are many different people and opinions floating around. I pray for God to give me the confidence in myself and my faith to know that I am who I am as a Christian and to give me the ability to continue to grow in my faith. I do believe that after watching this message, I will change my prayer time. I feel that maybe I should devote time every day to prayer, and continue to pray big things for not only myself, but for others. Like Andy said in the message,God is not bothered by our prayers, He is HONORED. I think that as long as we all remember that, we will be able to pray in a big way.
I've had a hard time with prayer for the last several months. The only thing I've found myself asking for help with are the "big" things. I guess I've felt like I could handle the small stuff on my own, but then things come my way that I know that someone or something bigger has to handle. The only thing I've prayed for regularly for the last month or so has been a friend who is going through one of the roughest times I've ever seen anyone have to face.
I think what struck home for me most in this message was "the size of your prayer communicates the size of your God". Like many others I find myself only praying in times of what I think are "real needs". Ofcourse I talk to God on a daily basis, in the car, at work, a little whisper here and there. But only on occasion do I really PRAY. So what is my prayer communiating to God, to myself, and others? That my God is only worthy of a whisper, a little chatter? As Andy was asking (over and over again) what were we working on big, I couldn't help but think...nothing. I couldn't think of one single thing on my own. I kept trying to attach myself to someone elses mission or idea. So my prayer this morning is that God would move me in a direction to find what my BIG thing will be.
Anonymous Post 10:58 -
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Great "big" prayers! Praying for people to connect with God through the local church and praying for personal growth are both prayers that God will use to stretch your faith. I'm praying that God would continue to provide you with the wisdom, patience and courage necessary to communicate His love and grace to college students who may question your faith.
Bobby
Anonymous 11:03 -
It is easy for all of us to think that we can handle the small stuff on our own. But remember in the prayer that Jesus used to teach the disciples, there was acknowledgement of daily dependence on God for the small stuff (i.e. - "daily bread"). God wants us to declare our dependence on Him and involve Him in our everyday lives.
Thank you for praying for your friend. Sounds like it's a situation where only God's peace will bring comfort and rest. Praying "big" for your friend now.
Bobby
Anonymous 11:42 -
Having 3 kids of our own, that one phrase, "the size of your prayers communicates the size of your God," struck a cord with me also. I began to think how small my kids must think God is as I thought through our last few nights of prayer. Definitely was challenged to help our children pray "big" prayers in the future.
I am praying for you that God would place a personal "big" vision/mission/prayer on your heart! Thanks for joining the discussion.
Bobby
This message is a great way to begin the year. I am thinking about my big prayer. I pray that I will be able to talk with my close friend more about Jesus and her to come to church. Overseas missions are always in my heart. I need to spend some time on this BIG prayer. One big prayer has been answered... the new, permanent location of Auburn Church. I am praying for the people of Auburn Church to really become apart of the mission and vision.
Glad that the message today challenged you to find your "big" prayer for 2009. Stepping out in faith to get involved in overseas missions is great way to start! Thank you for praying for Auburn Church! I'm praying for your close friend right now. Thanks for sharing with us!
A lot hit home for me in this message. I think it may be for where I am in life right now. As as senior getting ready to venture it is so easy to pray that God would just provide a decent job. This message really showed me that a decent job will be provided but why not ask for God to blow my mind and give me a job that will challenge me and stretch me beyond anything I can imagine. As someone said the size of your prayer determines the size of your God. And I know I serve a BIG God so why not honor him with BIG prayers.
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