Henry Blackaby writes, “Our world is not seeing God because we are not attempting anything that only God can do.”
This begs the question, what are we doing or going after that is God sized? If we only pray for small things that we could accomplish on our own, we will rarely see the hand of God moving and working on our behalf. God wants us to ask Him for things that are far beyond what makes sense in our natural world.
Praying for healing is a great example of this kind of reliance on God’s power and ability. When we pray for healing for others, we do so realizing that it is the power of God that heals, not some amazing ability we have. Whenever you seek God for healing, you are taking a step of faith, believing that God will do what He says He will do.
One evening when we were street pastoring downtown we came across a man who was limping. We asked if we could pray for his knee, and he agreed. We put our hands on the knee, and prayed a simple prayer of healing, and then asked him to try to do something he couldn’t do without pain before. When he started bending his knee, he began repeatedly saying, “What did you do to me?” He told us that all of his pain was gone and wondered how we had done this for him. We explained that God was showing him love by healing his knee.
In astonishment, he then said,” If this is that real, then I need prayer for my marriage.” As soon as this man watched God do a great physical healing work, he was open to getting prayer for the deeper heart issues of relationship. “When God’s people and the world see something only God can do, they come to know God” (Blackaby).
Sometimes God prompts us to do things that are out of our comfort zone. He wants us to step out and take risks to join Him in the work that He is already doing. When God reveals a need to us and makes our heart beat just a bit faster because we know we need to step out of out in faith, it can feel a little bit like a mini crisis! “When God tells you what He wants to do through you, you will face a crisis of belief” (Blackaby).
As we continue to work our way through our Experiencing God series this fall, we will focus on the fact that God doesn’t apologize for making us feel uncomfortable. If we are willing to pray for outrageous things, attempt impossible tasks and pursue God’s power and provision for the needs that we encounter, then we will begin to see God move in a way we have never seen before. For every crisis of faith moment, there is power from our God that will flow and God, Himself will be revealed when God comes through.
What are doing that “doesn’t pencil out?” What are you trusting God for that only He could deliver on? 2 Cor. 5:7 says that we are to “live by faith and not by sight” and Heb. 11:1 adds, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Obedience indicates faith in God.
What God sized thing are you going after? It’s time step out in faith and experience God!