These are some devotions that I read recently. Both are on the subject of prayer.
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Think Bigger
Robert Pophal
" Call unto me and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."-Jer. 33:3
As Napoleon's army marched through an area that they had conquered, a low-ranking private in his army saw a beautiful home on a large farm. It was an amazing place that was well beyond anything he could have ever afforded to buy. He decided that he would ask the great general Napoleon to give him that house and farmland. The other soldiers warned him that Napoleon could be infuriated with his request, as only high-ranking soldiers were usually given such rewards. He could be thrown in prison or even lose his life if Napoleon thought that he was wasting his time. He mustered the courage to approach the great general and ask him. Napoleon looked down from his war horse and said, to his surprise, "You honor me with the magnitude of your request. Your request is granted."
Have you ever honored God with the magnitude, or size, of your prayer requests? It's not too hard for God to bless the hamburger and french-fries you're about to eat. Let's start asking for the BIG THINGS! Don't get me wrong, the small things are important to pray about; but let's start asking God for some BIG THINGS! I don't mean a car, or a house, or a horse; I mean some big SPIRITUAL things. How about asking God to use your life to make a difference in your ENTIRE school? How about asking God to save ALL your friends? How about asking God to save ALL your family? Too big? Too hard? Not for God. We don't serve a small God; we serve a GREAT BIG God! Do you have the faith to start asking God for some BIG THINGS? I think we should show God the respect he deserves and start asking for some BIG THINGS!
You Ask and I Deliver
John Winders
" Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you;"-Matt 7:7
Several months ago, my wife and I went to a familiar fast food chain to grab a quick bite to eat. As we pulled up to order our food, an extremely weird voice came from the speaker and said, "Welcome to Hardees! Would you like to try an amazing Angus Burger?" After ordering our meals, we anxiously pulled around to the second window to get our food and put a face to this uncanny voice. As we expected, the young man was not quite all there, but was extremely intense about working at this fast food window! When we received our food, my wife leaned over to me and said, " Ask for a lot of ketchup."( Because we all know that when you ask for ketchup, they usually hand you one or two packets.)
So I made eye contact with this young man and said, "My wife would like a lot of ketchup."
With the most dramatic, intense, passionate face of anyone I have ever seen, the young man said, " Ketchup! You want a lot of ketchup!...Well, you ask, and I deliver!!!!" With that same intensity he proceeded to pull out a whole case of ketchup packets and unload the packets into my car by two-handed scoops at a time! I think there are still some packets in undiscovered places of that car to this day!
What a GREAT illustration of how our God is concerning prayer! The Bible is clear about prayer- it is a necessity for every Christian! What an amazing thought it is that the God Who created the universe wants to hear you pray. I challenge you today to decide to bring all of your downfalls, doubts, and desires before Him; because it is true, "If you ask, He will deliver!"
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