Bold Prayers Devo

  April 17th, 2016  

Devotional

“Praying Bold Prayers” - Numbers 11:4-23, 31-32

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Wailing” - Numbers 11: 4-9, Numbers 13: 26-30

There are times we get so caught up in our own situation and circumstances that we can become distracted from the bigger vision and purpose of the Kingdom of God. That was true of the Israelites in today’s scripture. Their feet were moving towards the promised land of God, but their minds were back in Egypt, remembering at a skew how things once were. They forgotten they were slaves; they only remembered that they had fish to eat.

We all get into these prayer slumps from time to time - when we can’t see beyond our own wants and needs, and that is okay for a period of time. But, eventually we need someone or something to help reorient us towards the bigger Kingdom sized picture.

When is the last time you prayed a big or risky prayer? What happened?

How do you refocus when you find that your prayers are becoming focused on wants instead of the Kingdom? 

How are the wants of the people different from the vision God gives them in Numbers 13:

Prayer: Jesus, we confess that sometimes we are selfish. Sometimes our prayers are more about what we want in the moment then what you need to transform your world. Help point us in the right direction we pray. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Deeply Troubled” - Numbers 11: 10-15, James 4:1-3

I’m not sure in Moses knew that his conversation full of questions for God was a prayer of sorts or if he simply had a lot to get off of his chest. We all have times in our lives when we are deeply troubled; times when we need to go to God simply to make our concerns known and to ask for God’s guidance and help.

The difference between what the people were asking for, meat, and what Moses was asking for, help carrying the burden of the people, is the heart of what they are asking. James tells his audience that you do not receive because you have the wrong motives. What are your motives in your prayer life?  

How do you respond to the idea that we can have different motives with our prayers?

What is the impact of the prayers your pray? 

Prayer: Lord, life can be overwhelming. Help us dwell close to you and run to you with our questions and concerns when life just seems to be too much for us. We believe, O Lord, that you will respond with our best interest in mind. Amen. 

Wednesday: “ The Power of the Spirit” - Numbers 11: 16-17, Revelation 3:7

What do you think Moses expected when he brought his questions and frustrations before the Lord? I doubt that he expected the Lord to respond so immediately. Nor did he probably think that some of the power that had been bestowed upon him would be given to other people to share. 

What makes us travel though life thinking that we need to do everything on our own? Sometimes God’s response to our prayers is to help us see those right in front of us who can help us along our journey. It is a huge risk sometime to ask for God’s help because we don’t know how God is going to respond. Prayers, especially praying that God’s will be done, are an act of trust. But, the words of Pastor Mark Batterson, “if you don’t take the risk, you can forfeit the miracle.” 

Tell about a time you risked taking something to God in prayer when Go showed up and did something you never could have imagined. 

Tell of a time you did not risk taking something to God in prayer. What happened? 

Prayer: Lord, you are the only one who has the power and authority to open and close doors in our lives. Often when a door is being closed we forget that you will open another door for us, even if it is unexpected. Help us seek out your unexpected answers to our prayers. Amen. 

Thursday: “Not Just for One Day” - Numbers 11: 18-23

I love God’s display of power in this particular piece of scripture. It is as if God is saying,  if you don’t believe I can provide, I will show you, to the point of excess that would make the people detest what they asked for. God tells the people they won’t get meat for just one day that they are to eat, they will have meat for a whole month. 

How often do we question God’s power without realizing it? The scripture says that the people rejected God when they said that they were better off in Egypt. Do we not do the same thing when we say that we know our way will be better or do things without consulting the Lord?  When we do so we show that we have a small view of God - we need to extend our prayers to God-sized prayers that claim God’s power in our lives. 

How have you doubted or limited God in your life? 

Prayer: Lord, forgive us for the times that we made you too small in our lives. The times that we have doubted your goodness and mercy towards us, doubted that you would provide in a mighty way. Help us to expand our view of life and our prayers to honor your Kingdom. Amen. 

Friday: “No Less than 10” - Numbers 11: 31-32, 1 Kings 18:41-46

Let’s pause and think about this for a moment. God dumped a whole lot of quail - approximately three feet deep worth of quail - on where the Israelites were located. Most of you know that I don’t eat meat, so its hard for me to gauge what is a portion size or how much meat people need to feel full - but its hard to imagine a person eating 10 quail in a day!

Sometimes when we pray big prayers, we get even bigger answers. Even when we didn’t mean to pray big, bold prayers. The people were simply complaining and look what they received. How much more would we receive if we intentional pray that God’s Kingdom come and mean it? 

Jim Collins once wrote a book entitled Good to Great where he spoke of having BHAG - Big Hairy Audacious Goals - things that are bigger than you. What would happen if we prayed BHAP - Big Hairy Audacious Prayers that God alone can answer and be glorified through?

How do you pray through situations where your prayer doesn’t seem to be answered?

Has God ever answered your prayers in a big way? 

Prayer: Lord, free us of our assumptions so we can claim the greatest truth - that you only, O Lord, are able! Amen!

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Living our Beliefs: Small Groups” - Hebrews 10: 24-25, Acts 2:42, Proverbs 27:17

Family Activity: Start keeping a prayer scrapbook. Have something to symbolize your family’s big prayers and mark when and how God answers them.