06/24/2024
Continuing with the subject of answered prayer this morning, we come to understand that prayer changes the world. It not only changes us and that small halo of life which surrounds us, but the world as a whole.
Paul wrote these words in his letter to the Philippians...
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 KJV
We aren't instructed to bring the things we find reasonable and that appear to be within our abilities; we are instructed to bring everything to God. When we do this remarkable and astounding things happen. E.M. Bounds wrote on this subject and said:
"The utmost possibilities of prayer have rarely been realized. The promises of God are so great to those who truly pray, that when He puts Himself fully into the hands of the praying ones, it almost staggers our faith and leaves us amazed."
Sometimes after prayer I think back on the intimate time I have had with the Lord. I realize that there were things I wanted to bring before him that I held back because I thought them too great for me to achieve. In fact, they really were too great for me to accomplish, but then again, that is why I pray; I seeking God's aid and intercession in things that are much bigger than me, and beyond my ability. What is beyond our ability is child's play for our God.
“‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.”
Jeremiah 32:17 ESV
Then there are those small things in life that I ask God to help me with, just wishing His presence and hand will comfort me in my task, and make what I do more perfect... but following these prayers something incredible happens; He takes that seemingly insignificant request and grows it beyond my wildest imagination. The request that seems to be for my family alone suddenly becomes about all families. Feeding one hungry man I pass on the street grows to feeding every hungry person in my city as I serve in a soup kitchen.
I have written before about the song "Bridge over Troubled Water" that Paul Simon wrote as a "little hymn." Later, in an interview, he revealed the most awesome observation...
"I have no idea where it came from. It came all of a sudden. It was one of the most shocking moments in my songwriting career. I remember thinking, 'this is considerably better than I usually write."
Moments like this are what happen when God steps into our prayer lives. This is what happens when we pray for something we do every day and He suddenly takes that raw material we have brought before Him and increases it beyond belief. In the case of "Bridge over Troubled Water" it became a song that touched the world. It was a message of comfort and friendship that changed people around the world for the better.
Have thoughts suddenly popped into your head? Have you been going about your routine life when suddenly a huge idea has overcome you? What did you do with that idea? Did you turn it away and force it either to go away entirely, or to resurface again later like a repetitive dream? Did you pray about it, or were you too embarrassed, or too afraid, to ask God what He thought? Maybe that inspiration was God directed, maybe that fear you were feeling was the same intense emotion that skydivers feel just before exiting the plane to the experience of their lives. Remember what Paul wrote... "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."
So this morning when we pray let's speak to the Lord about the big as well as the small things in our lives. Let's ask Him to step in and make the routine things great and those things that are beyond our reach doable. If there are fears associated with some of the tasks that God is leading us to do let's ask him to calm those fears and increase our trust in Him. Maybe today is the beginning of an adventure with Him in which He intends for you to do something that will change the world. There are none of us so insignificant that with God's help we can't impact the world in some amazing way. Maybe today you will see a sick child and become the next Mother Teresa, or come upon one lost soul, and eventually find yourself delivering the gospel to a full stadium like Billy Graham. Prayer changes us, and it changes the world.
I want to conclude with one final quote from Pastor E.M. Bounds: "Prayer moves people because it moves God to move them. Prayer moves the hand that moves the world."
I love praying scripture and today I pray the final verse of Philippians 4 for you... "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
Prayer:
Father thank you for inspiring us in life, and giving us the gift of prayer that takes that inspiration and makes it real in the world. Thank you Lord for the small ideas, and troubles that we pray over which grow into huge accomplishments for you, and amazing comfort for thousands through your Son Jesus Christ as His gospel impacts the masses. We thank you for the small things that become huge by prayer, and we thank you too for the giant ideas we have that end up being rendered down until they touch but a single soul, or become one perfect pearl of great price for your heavenly treasure. Jesus spoke to us about the man who sold all he had to buy that one perfect pearl, and we pray Father that we will recognize that pearl when you reveal to us in our lives, and that we will pray over it until we are able to grasp it. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who by your inspiration spoke all of creation into existence, and we pray for the wisdom to recognize the thoughts and ideas you give us, and believe enough in you to pray over them, and to see where you lead us in them. Wherever we go in prayer, whether towards large accomplishments by the world’s standards, or into tiny perfections of great heavenly value, we give you all the glory Father. We pray for your will to be done in us, and in all you lead us to do, and we pray that whatever lot you have chosen for us will be like yourself… it will be sufficient for us, and of great value to your kingdom. Praised be your Holy Name, now and forevermore. Perfect be your will in us as we obey it, and great the impact of our prayers in both Heaven and on the Earth.
Amen, Amen, Amen!!
Rich Forbes