More and Bigger Prayers

Heading into 2019 I felt the Lord leading me to ask him for more and bigger things. According to John 15: 7 – 8, answered prayers are fruit that we bear, and the Father is glorified when our prayers are answered. Answered prayers are always one of the three evidences that Jesus tells us we are truly his disciples (the other two are in John 8:31-32 and John 13:34-35).

I want to ask God for more things because James told us we do not have because we do not ask. Jesus also told his disciples that up to the present time they had asked nothing in his name; he told them to start asking and they could receive and their joy would be full.

I want to ask God for bigger things because with him nothing is impossible! Some situations I pray for could work themselves out on their own. I don’t want to be afraid to ask God to do things that he, and only he, can do.

How can we ask God for more things? If our conversation with our Father is limited, we can increase our time with him. We can also covenant to intercede for the needs of more people — coworkers, church members, neighbors, friends, family, etc. We can move beyond prayer responsibility to prayer desire and let God prompt us for specific things to pray over people we do not even know and situations with which we have no personal involvement.

How can we ask God for bigger things? One way is to realize that when Jesus said “you” it was in the plural and not the singular. He wasn’t just telling Peter that Peter could ask what he desired and so could John and James. He was telling Peter, James and John that they could ask him for big things in agreement together and see the fruit of these answered prayers. Devotion to group prayer was one of the biggest secrets to the early church’s success. Could and should we as God’s leaders today find more time for prayer in agreement with other leaders?

I invite you to join with me in praying big prayers for the Heartland Conference and the IPHC to grow:

1. Laborers — Father, help us raise up workers and bring independent leaders to us.
2. Open Doors — Father, we want your kingdom to move into new places.
3. Supernatural Resources — Father, help us to plan and have vision for more than what we can support with current resources. Let our vision be what only you can do!
4. Lasting Fruit — Father, we want our lives and ministry to count for eternity. Give us souls and results that change destinies forever.

Much love in Christ,
Stuart

Image (c) Can Stock Photo / Paha_L