“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed,
you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘
Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.
Luke 17:6
It was one of those rare moments when I was in the car alone with only one of my four girls. I don't know now where Clara and I were headed, I only know our course was interrupted by crisis.
"Can we pray, Mommy?"
I was thrilled this was her first response. My initial words were full of faith but then doubt bombarded.
Are you sure you want to pray so boldly?
What if God doesn't come through?
What if her faith is wrecked by God's unresponsiveness?
My fear collided with my faith.
Did I really believe God or would I pray a weak "only if you want to God" kind of prayer? I pushed my doubt aside and pushed forward in faith - mother and daughter together pleading with God for a friend.
Within minutes my phone rang again.
"How is he?" I eagerly implored.
"Fine. His abdominal pain just...disappeared. One minute he was crying. The next he was ready to go home. We didn't even see the doctor."
I am guilty of praying weak, short on grind prayers. They include lots of escape clauses for God. But what if God doesn't want a trap door? What if He's just waiting on us to push through our doubt and pray with faith? What if we mouthed boldly brewed prayers?
Has your fear recently collided your faith? Do you dare to pray bold?
______________________________
Need help with your prayer life? Try these resources available for FREE download: PrePrayed - Preparation for Life's Events and 8 Life Transforming Prayers. Claim your free download at http://www.shannonmilholland.com/free-resources.html.
Great post, Shannon! I too struggle with this! Right now, I'm reading Greater by Steven Furtick... awesome book about small steps toward living the "greater" life. One section talks about "digging the ditches" and believing that God is going to send the rain. So often, I give up and just assume that something can't happen instead of believing our amazing God for it! I love that your daughter brought on this moment of belief in prayer! :)
ReplyDeleteI ordered that book and can't wait to read it!!
Delete"Are you sure you want to pray so boldly?
ReplyDeleteWhat if God doesn't come through?
What if her faith is wrecked by God's unresponsiveness?"
Well, this is just fabulous and I KNOW it is going to resonate with your readers. It certainly did with me. I loved the post and I'm glad the little boy is fine too.
Thanks, Rosey. It definitely hit me when I realized my 6 year old had such sweet, definite faith.
DeleteWe should all be so forthright like your 6 year old! How wonderful!! Striving for the faith of a child...
ReplyDeleteMy great-grandma always used to tell me to ask boldly for what we want to have happen and gut believe He could make it happen (and He knows anyway--we might as well be honest). But we should praise Him for His will to be done. His glory revealed. No matter what, where, why, when, and how.
and I know what she was trying to say but I still struggle with the bold asking.
thanks for giving me something to ponder today!
Nikki, let's be bold together!
DeleteShannon, I think this is one of your best posts ever! :) They are all great, but I really love this one. I'm guilty of having my faith and fear collide all the time. Particularly when I'm praying for others who are feeling discouraged in their storm. What if God doesn't come through? What if His answer isn't what I'm praying for? Will these beautiful souls lose their faith because I wasn't effective in praying for them powerfully enough (I know how that sounds -- it's not about me -- I know, but I feel a sense of "mothering" their faith and I what if I fail them?) The same holds true when my daughters pray for God to heal their grandpa who is in and out of the hospital every other week or so these days. Will they lose their faith? How do I prepare them for what will inevitably happen? This was beautiful and really struck a chord with me. Thank you, friend. And sorry to ramble my confusing nonsense.
ReplyDeleteI am with you, Rosann. This is why it's called steps of faith instead of leaps. :)
DeleteFantastic post. Sometimes I am guilty of not having complete faith. It is hard sometimes to put complete trust in our lord.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it? I'm so thankful for moments like those where we get a gentle little reminder. :)
DeleteThank you for sharing your story about bold prayers at Tell me a Story. WOW - If two or three agree God will answer. God is joyful when we step out with our bold prayers and expect the ditches to be filled with water.
ReplyDeleteAmen, sistah!
DeleteShannon,
ReplyDeleteI am guilty of including "escape clauses" in my prayers too at times. Thanks for this post.
Re your comments on my post "The Slushie from a Stranger," I'll look at praying before food in a whole new way now. ;)
Have a great week.
Jennifer Dougan
www.jenniferdougan.com
lol Jennifer, perhaps we could combine your revolutionized pre-meal prayers and my bold prayers to cover food from strangers... :)
DeleteLove this friend! I am always amazed at how big our kids' faith is. They don't hesitate to pray those bold prayers that we as adults can back off from. Thanks for sharing! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. So thankful for them and the example they are to me. :)
DeleteOh kids are so amazing with their faith. I think God must listen to them before he listens to us!! I give HIM escape clauses too... The thing is, as my husband points out, he doesn't need them. He has your back... even unanswered prayers are a blessing!
ReplyDeleteYes He does. Don't you love knowing He sees around the curve of your life. Nothing takes Him by surprise. :)
DeleteThis is a great testimony for bold faith, Shannon. Thank you also for Prayers for Life Events!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! So thankful for your visit today! I pray you were refreshed.
DeleteLovely post. I too am guilty of rushed and doubtful prayers, but it's amazing when you see a child ask something boldly from God. It's kind of refreshing, really.
ReplyDeleteYou're right both amazing and refreshing. :)
DeleteWow Shannon that was wonderful. I am glad you were strong and able to say a strong prayer with your daughter. It was such and important lesson and I can imagine how fear gave you doubt if just for a moment.
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely one of those significant moments for me. So glad faith conquered!
DeleteThat was a great story of faith and courage! What a great legacy for you child. It is so great to put our faith in action for our children to see:))
ReplyDeleteWhat's cooler is the impact the whole thing had on the other mom. :)
DeleteMy child is a product of such faith.
ReplyDeleteAfter 12 years of praying that God might let us have a child, my husband started to ask God in detail. A girl, brown hair, green eyes, etc.
A couple of months later we went to our ministerial conference. Upon returning home, he prayed even more detailed. Since there were 3 couples in our local congregation, all married over 10 years, not able to have children, he asked God to let one of us have a child to give hope to all of us. Not that would would have the child, but that one of the couples would.
That was the day my cycle started. Within 2 weeks, with no intervention, after over 12 years, I was pregnant. God is a God of Faith, sometimes when it looks like He's not answering, he's just growing our character and patience.
In October, my beautiful daughter, Faith, will be 2 years old. A girl, brown hair and green eyes....
Oh, Joy, I love this. Thank you so much for sharing this. So inspiring! I am praising God with you for your sweet little girl!
DeleteI had read lots of books about prayer and I found out that what it suits others might not suits someone else or vice versa. We are different from each other and I believe that hearfelt prayers moved God.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your insight, Joy! Sounds like you're a prayer expert!
DeleteYes and amen sister Shannon! What a gift... to you and your little one! We're boldly coming before His throne thanking, asking, praising! ~ Blessings, Amy :)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Let's boldly approach the throne of grace!
Delete