I don’t do math. I’m the person who made a B in Basic Math in college! I’m embarrassed to say what I made in the accounting class I attempted for some dumb reason. I probably thought the accountant I was dating at the time would turn out to be useful…but apparently he was only ornamental.
Anyway, I think it’s funny that my thoughts go to math when talking about prayer, since I try to keep my mind off math as much possible. Yet, here I am writing about the prayer equation. Here’s the point:
Your prayer list + the kinds of requests = the size of your God.
If I looked at your prayer list today, what would it tell me about your opinion of God? If you don’t have a list to show me, that tells me you’re handling life on your own.
How’s that going for you?
However, if you do confess faith in God through Christ, then I hope you have something to show for it. A changed life would be the first clue. A well-used Bible would be a second. A prayer life would be a third, and a life of witness would be the fourth.
Let’s go back to prayer. Whether you write them down or not, reflect on what you’re asking the Almighty God of Creation.
The bigger the requests, the more impossible for you to solve, the more honor you give to the God you trust to answer. I am not negating the childlike prayers of our youth, for God answers them as well. When a child asks God to “bless Mommy and Daddy,” God hears and does bless, because he knows the faith behind the request. Yet, if, after twenty years of faith, I’m still asking for God to “bless the missionaries” or “forgive us our sins,” then I’m missing out on the amazing power God puts at my disposal in prayer.
How much do you expect of God? You show that in your prayers.
Do you think him capable of healing your marriage? Saving your father? Bringing your child off the streets and away from drugs? If you’re not praying specifically for him to do what only he can, then your view of God is too small.
The father of the modern missionary movement, William Carey, once preached a sermon, in which he said, “Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.”
When we pray with expectations of great things from God, we are empowered and emboldened to move forward in faith that he will do great things through us. God does not do great things through great people, but through the weak with great faith.
Take a look at your prayer list and your prayer life. Expect more from your God, because he is capable of the miraculous and longs to receive the honor and glory that comes in answering the prayers of his children.
Pray with great expectation in a great God … then stand back and watch what he will do.
Grace and Peace