Go Ahead, Ask BIG! “One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer - at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.” Acts 3:1-7 I love this story because of what it says about the character of God. How many times do we find ourselves in need (like the lame man) and we ask God for what we think we need? How many times do we underestimate what God may desire to give us? The lame man had no idea that he was about to experience a miraculous healing. He was only asking for money, but Peter and John (and God) had something much greater in mind. Notice how the Scripture says the lame man was expecting to get something from the disciples. I believe most of us, when we pray, expect God to answer. Many times, however, we expect that answer to be less than what God has for us. Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God is able to do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine”. Not only is He able, but He also desires to bless His children. I want you to know, today, that God loves you; He wants to bless you; and He can do it in ways that you can never even imagine possible! So, you may ask, how do I respond to that? My answer is simple: Don’t be afraid to ask BIG. Don’t be afraid to pray for that thing that seems impossible. It is NOT impossible for God! Think about it...whatever you can imagine, He can do immeasurably more. Does that mean He always will? Of course not, because He loves you and knows what you need better than you do. Sometimes that need is completely different from what we are asking (like the ability to walk rather than money). Whatever you are facing in your life - or what you may face in the future - I want to encourage you to pray with confidence in your loving Heavenly Father. Go ahead, ask BIG.
Posted on: Thu, 01 May 2014 16:39:32 +0000