Pray Bigger

If we were honest, most of us would confess that our prayer life is not much more than updating God on the daily health and travel report. We tell Him who is sick, who is traveling and we pray for their physical safety. I believe that these should not be our greatest prayer concerns. In fact, I would argue that if these are your greatest requests before God, you have a misunderstood and shallow understanding of His miraculous Kingdom

There is a wonderful example of this in Mark 2 when some men bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus. Unable to get into the packed house, the desperate men climb on to the roof, open it up and then lower their buddy in front of Christ. I can imagine the electricity in the air as everyone silently waited to see if Jesus would miraculously heal this man’s physical body. What happens next may surprise you, it certainly surprised the crowed. Jesus didn’t give the man power to walk, but rather turns to him and said, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Jesus gave this man what he most needed instead of what he most wanted. The crowed was disappointed, no one cheered, no one was amazed and no one praised God, rather they replied with skepticism and accusations. In order to silence the critics, Jesus confirmed God’s forgiveness by telling the man, “get up, take your mat and go home.” Mark then tells us that the paralyzed man, “got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God.” What is wrong with this picture? The crowed wanted, cheered for, was amazed at and praised God for the lesser miracle. They merely wanted the man to walk. In contrast, Jesus wanted the greater miracle, which was to forgive this man’s sins.

In my life I have experienced many of God’s extraordinary miracles and provisions, so many so that I couldn’t even start to list them. Yet as I reflect back on them, I truly believe that they all pale in comparison to the single greatest miracle I have experienced, which is the forgiveness of my sins through the blood of Jesus Christ. I am further amazed at the ongoing miraculous work of God as He continues to be faithful to forgive this stubborn, proud and arrogant saint, while all the while continuing His unceasing dedication to conform me into the image of Christ. What a patient, loving and miraculous God we have.

I want to encourage you to stop praying in the shallow end. Why would you merely ask God to give a person travel safety or good health if they are dead to God? By God’s grace, I pray that once again you will find urgency in praying for the impossible (Mk 10:27). Start praying for your neighbors, your family members, your co-workers, your friends and your enemies. Pray that they would receive the miraculous work of the cross and experience the forgiveness of sins from an almighty, loving and holy God. Finally, do not become complacent to the miraculous in your own life just because it is assured in your heart and commonplace among your friends. If God has given you the grace to place your trust in Jesus Christ, then He has pardoned your sin, freeing you from it’s bondage and penalty. Live afresh in the strength and joy of our Savior, who miraculously says to you, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”