Pray Big: Can’t Even Imagine

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us . . .” (Ephesians 3:20)

Okay, yes, this is not even a whole thought, but Paul squeezed a huge idea or two into this sentence fragment.

pb_350In a way, it makes sense that we tend to pray small, because God can do so much more than we could ever even dream up. He’s got the power to do good for us that we do not have the power to think of to ask for.

Bottom line: You will never be able to ask God for something that is beyond his ability to do because you’ll never be able to think of anything that is beyond his ability to do.

This verse is not a promise that God will do whatever you ask him to (no matter what your motives). Sometimes he says no because that is what is best for us and for others – but he never says no because he cannot do what we ask. We don’t have to be afraid to pray bigger.

Think: Have you ever limited what you asked God for because you were limited in your understanding of what God can do? Are you able to hear a “no” or “not now” from God as his love for you, trusting that what you asked for would not ultimately be for the good?

Pray: Ask God to help you to pray like he is really able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine – and to trust him to respond to our prayers out of his love for us.

Do: Ask a wiser Christian you know if they have ever asked God for something they desperately wanted at the time – but are now glad that he said no to.