Ask Big
"Suppose you had an Aladdin's lamp. When you rubbed it, a genie
would appear who could give you anything you requested. What would you
ask for?"
A doctor friend of mine used to ask his new patients
this question. Most of their replies were amazingly similar. "I would
ask for inner peace."
Peace—it is a profound request. Not many really have it.
Right now, what would you ask for?
God
appeared to King Solomon and said, "Ask for whatever you want me to
give you" (2 Chronicles 1:7). Solomon was ready with his plea: "Give me
wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to
govern this great people of yours?" (1:10).
Another profound request. But Solomon asked not a mythical genie, but Almighty God who has power to answer.
If
God should appear to you right now with the offer, "Ask for whatever
you want Me to give you," what would you ask for? Think a moment. What
would you like Him to give you?
What would you ask Him for your family?
What would you ask for your friends?
Well,
He has appeared and made just such an incredible offer. "And I will do
whatever you ask in my name . . . " (John 14:13). And again, "Ask
whatever you wish, and it will be given you" (John 15:7). We need to
bring our requests in the full knowledge that the offer stands as
originally made.
John Newton, the eighteenth-century slave trader who after his conversion penned "Amazing Grace," wrote,
Thou are coming to a King;
Large petitions with thee bring;
For His grace and power are such
None can ever ask too much!
Dawson
Trotman, who founded The Navigators, used to challenge us to "Ask big
of a big God!" Are we asking big enough? How about some requests like
these for your prayer list:
- Wisdom and knowledge (2 Chronicles 1:10).
- That you may know God (Exodus 33:13, Jeremiah 9:23,24).
- That God will pour out His Spirit on your family and His blessing on your offspring (Isaiah 44:3).
- "Here I am, send me" (Isaiah 6:8).
- "The ability to articulate to others what I feel about God" (in the words of a friend).
- The privilege of raising up the foundations of many generations (Isaiah 58:12).
- Laborers for Christ in every kindred, tongue, people, and nation (Matthew 9:37,38, Revelation 5:9).
If you don't already do this, why not take time right now to block
off some half days on your calendar for special times when, alone or
with your spouse if you're married, you can get away with the Lord? The
rewards of such times are both immediate and long-range.
Keep a record of certain things that you ask. Put a date beside the requests. And praise Him in advance for His answers!
Lorne Sanny served as The Navigators' second president and chairman of the board for three decades. He passed away in March 2005. This article was first published in NavLog, October 1979.
