The visual above is the result of a project in Vacation Bible School done by a ten-year- old boy. The same challenge was posed in a book by Alistair Begg, “Pray Big: Learn to Pray Like an Apostle.” If answering prayer is one way God has of revealing His grace, why would we not want to pray big? The answer would give Him the opportunity to reveal himself more clearly.
If we are to become people who pray big, a basic question needs to be answered. Is He able? If He is not able, then it is useless to pray big. Scripture is clear:
Ephesians 3:20–21 (NIV) “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…”
2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV) “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
Matthew 28:18 (ESV) “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
John 17:1,2a “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, …”
Does God want to answer big prayers? In Luke 11:13, Jesus used the example of an earthly father’s willingness to give to his children to encourage us to believe that our heavenly Father was even more willing to give to His children.
The size of our prayers reflects our opinion of our God. Is He skimpy, cheap or limited? J.B. Phillips authored a book, “Your God Is Too Small.” Adjectives used to describe God’s power and grace all reflect God’s overwhelming sufficiency, abundance, and generosity. Isaiah 40 was written to comfort and encourage His people. He simply asked them to “Behold your God.” In light of such a God as described there, we can never pray too big. Our prayers are of record in heaven. They are in bowls that will one day be poured out by the angels. Can you imagine God asking, “Why didn’t you ask for more?”
I asked Bernice Jones for a million dollars to help us build the larger worship center at Camp Siloam. This humble widow told me she would give the million dollars. The next morning, a call came to my office with her soft voice on the other end of the call. “Dr. Moore, why did you just ask me for a million dollars? You don’t understand, I want to pay for it all.” Information I left with her indicated the cost was $1,250,000. She assured me that when the rest was needed, she would have it there for us.
Why do we not ask God for more? Psalm 145:3–4 (NIV) “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.”