The Sky is the Limit: Praying Bigger Prayers

        White knuckle prayers of safety. Hail Mary's (referring to the last minute football play, not the catholic prayer). Whatever you want to call them. 

        You know what I am talking about.  We have all prayed them.  And if you are a mom you have prayed them several times a day. 

        And they work.  They really do.  God hears them. 

But I think that there is more. Let me explain.

           The other day I was praying for someone in a difficult situation.  In my heart I prayed a weak, fearful begging type prayer,

                        “Oh God just help them.”

        Then I was able to take time to get away and pray.  As I quieted myself, I could hear that gentle tender whisper.     

          “Molly, your prayers are too small.”

         I knew I needed to forget my fear and leave timidity in the dust.  

                        “Lord forgive me.”

            Suddenly a download occurred.  You know it’s when you have these incredible thoughts fill your mind.  And you know its God because you don’t typically think this way.

         I suddenly knew He could give this person more than just a little help.  He could give this person divine exponential favor.  He could give supernatural influence to lead others to Himself through their situation.  He could exalt himself through this itty-bitty problem in ways I couldn’t imagine.  He could give them supernatural peace that surpassed understanding. He could reveal the heights, depths and widths of His love for this person in a second.  

       Instantly, I knew what God was saying.  I was only praying from an earthly perspective of fear.  The situation was bleak.  But when I sat in stillness in God's presence, I instantly knew He was Lord over the situation.  God wanted me to see the resources of Heaven were behind my prayers.  He wanted to give so. Much. More.

         We are His kids and this is His Kingdom.  He likes to give His Kingdom to His Kids. He likes to move mountains, reveal His glory and provide lavishly.  He’s not afraid to use little old us.  He’s not afraid to involve us.  He is the Lord of the Universe.  All the vast stars, planets, moons and far away galaxies were created with just the breath of his mouth.  He spoke and it came.  He said it and it happened.  He’s better than a genie in a bottle or Santa Claus.  Way Better. 

A Prayer for Today:      

        Lord give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that we may know you.  Fill us with all boldness and help us pray God sized prayers.  Help us know you so we can believe for big things.  Forgive us for our unbelief and our small mindedness. Help us know you, really know you. 

"The Sky is the Limit" Praying Bigger Prayers from a Godly Perspective

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think or imagine.” Ephesians 3:20

Chaos to Peace in Thirty Minutes

Chaos. Pure chaos.

     Just being honest but this is sometimes the state of house about 30 minutes before Dad comes home in the evenings. Mom (moi) throwing dinner together, 2 year old sitting on the table, and someone spills a glass of milk on the carpet.  It may have been okay all day but it's like their internal Dad clock begins to alert them that it's time for him to return.

     And just as I whisper under my breath, " Help me God." The door creaks open and in walks our beloved hero Dad. Relief and joy covers all our faces.  The kids begin to tug on his legs and spew details about their day as he listens with animated facial expressions.

Peace returns. Shalom peace. Tension and stress dissipate.

That's the power of a father's presence.

That's a picture of the Heavenly Father's presence.

That's where I get a picture of it. But I realize this is not everyone's experience. Where do you need to experience it? Where do you need to know His shalom peace?  Is your internal Dad clock going off inside? Do you long for the love, affection and all surpassing peace really only The Father can give?

Maybe even the word "Dad" or "Father" stirs up mixed emotions.  What was represented to you did not equate to who your Heavenly Father really is.  But I am trusting in a Big God who can bypass our  pain related to our wounds and speak to us about who He really is.

    He's a Father who comes home, happy.
    He's a Father who affectionately listens to you talk about your day.
    He's a Father who really really likes you. You hold a special part In His heart.
    He's a Father who turns chaos into peace by His presence.

In Wisdom of Tenderness Brennan Manning writes,

"Do I wholeheartedly trust that God likes me?  . . . If you too can answer with gut-level honesty, 'Oh yes, the Father is very fond of me, ' there comes a relaxedness and serenity, a compassionate attitude toward  yourself in brokeness, that elucidates the meaning of tenderness."


                                               

Found these pics.  Josiah, age 2, and his nose kisses.

A Prayer for Today:

       Father, Give me understanding of how you see me today. Show me a picture of your love for me.  Show me the unending affection you have for me. Let me rest in knowing you always take delight in me. Help me press in to the superior pleasure of knowing you. Help me rest in your all surpassing peace today.

Jesus as our Plumb Line

"And I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line."
Isaiah 28:17
"Look I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel."
Amos 7:8

Jesus is the plumb line. 

Two tools a good carpenter needs:

A level and plumb line

       
         In a symbolic sense, using a level could be equated with only comparing  ourselves with others.  And we might see ourselves above or below them.  But our perspective is inaccurate as there is no alignment with The TRUTH or what is right.  It's a trap. 

       "Am I on their level? Are they on my level?"
  We may be tempted to ask.  But if we are subtly asking this question we are already mistaken.  We are all fallible broken humans.  Judging ourselves by looking at each other is a game we have already lost from the get go. We will never grab hold of our destiny peering through this earthly perspective of comparison.

         But, if we have a plumb line, we have what is TRUE.  We have a perfect standard by which to measure and judge ourselves accurately.  We have the perfect standard embodied in a man.  That is what Christ is; He is the Plumb Line with which we need to compare ourselves to.  In so doing, we realize the truth; that there is still more and more in us that needs to align with Him.  

           Also if we have the perfect Plumb Line, we have a perfect Love that tells us The Truth about who we are becoming.  We also find He has more love and affection for us than we ever imagined possible.   Sure, He sees our weaknesses and shortcomings.   But much more than that He sees us for our potential.  He sees us seated in high places, lacking nothing.  He calls us up higher, away from our measly trappings of comparison.  He sets us in our place, puts a crown on our head and tells us who we are becoming.  He tells us the TRUTH in a way the world or those we are tempted to compare ourselves to never could.

     

                Two tools every good carpenter needs:
                           a level and a plumb line
                 
                     

Lazer level and plumb line making a cross

          

    A prayer for today: Father, expose any ways I am comparing myself to others today.  Help me to make you the Standard by which I measure myself by.  Help me to see myself as you see me.