As I was going through our family Bible, I found an article. The page is tinted brown from old age, and the women's clothing ads on the backside look like it may be from the 1950s - 1960s. The article was written by Norman Vincent Peale, and I'd like to share it with you:
Years ago, I was pastor of a church which had a debt of $50,000, and I was supposed to raise that sum. I called a meeting of my board, and we debated until midnight, coming to the conclusion that we might raise $20,000. But the whole amount, we felt, was impossible to secure. (Remember, $50,000 back then was a lot more than it is today).
The next day, I went to see a prominent member of my church, a Mr. Wood. He was a business man with little formal education, but he could tell me more about Christianity in five minutes than I had learned all my life up to then. He had made two fortunes, lost them through a partner's carelessness, and then had gone out and made a third. But I went to see him because he had more than money; he had ideas and lots of faith. And this was the creative kind of faith, the type that moves mountains - or debts.
"Mr. Wood," I said, "as you know, we had a meeting of the board last night, and I thought I'd come out to see you today."
"I thought you would. How much do you plan to raise?"
"20,000," I replied, "and I thought you might make the first gift."
He looked at me with disgust. "I won't give a nickel, but I'll tell you what I will do. I'll pray with you."
Lacking the faith in prayer I have acquired since, I wasn't enthusiastic. But I got down on my knees with him. He prayed a whimsical, but powerfully effective prayer.
"Lord," he said, "I wish You would do something for my young friend here. He's been to college and has 2 or 3 degrees, but what he doesn't know would fill a book. He doesn't know anything about human psychology or about faith. He has a church with plenty of money in it, and yet, he come and tells me they can only raise $20,000. I've told him I won't give him anything. But, Lord, if he will have faith enough to believe the whole amount can be raised, I'll give him $5,000 toward that $50,000."
"Where do I get the other 45?" I asked, still on my knees.
"Where you got that first five."
"Where did I get it?"
"We prayed for it, you and I. And now, you have it. Always ask big, son. Always pray big prayers and believe while you pray."
I told him I didn't know anyone else who had $5,000, and he sent me to see a certain man. I went into that man's office with the defeatist idea of asking for $500, or perhaps $1000. But, remembering Mr. Wood, I forced myself to ask for $5000. No one could have been more stunned than I when he said, "All right, I'll give it to you."
In excitement, I ran almost all the way to Mr. Wood's home. "He did it!" I shouted. "He did it!"
Mr. Wood was calm. "Of course he did. I asked the Lord for it and believed He would answer that prayer, for it was a reasonable request and for a good purpose. God will give you big things if you ask for them," he concluded.
You must have faith if you want prayer to do things for you. And if you aren't getting the answers you want from your prayers, it may be because your prayers are not great enough. Don't pray little prayers--pray big prayers. Ask for right things and ask right-that is, ask with faith.
You want health? Pray for it. You want financial security? Pray for it. You want happiness in your home? Pray for it. You want a life filled with abundant joy? Pray for it. Pray big prayers and you will get big answers.
After showing this to my wife, we both got down on our knees, apologized to the Lord for all the little prayers and prayers for things that would just sustain us, and asked for big things, huge things, and things that would normally seem impossible. We have a big God! Is anything too big for the Lord? He urges us to ask so that our joy may be complete, and James tells us that when we pray, we should do so with faith that God will grant it.
Go ahead...pray big! And watch what awesome things God will do!
---Andy :}>+-
