Just yesterday I hit 1 Corinthians 11 in my daily reading. I knew the point of the entire book is unity - as a church have the same mind, the same judgment, with no divisions, that all agree (1:10). And as I progressed through the book the Paul repeatedly uses those same words: same, one, united, &etc. It was easy to see what message he was trying to illustrate to the church in Corinth, until I hit that chapter. When I finished reading through it I felt confused and I prayed that God reveal His point. All day I kept thinking about it, reflecting, analyzing, wondering... and this morning in my daily devotions (the first thing I read when I wake up) was about this very chapter! I was in awe how God answered that prayer.
While discussing the importance of reading our Bible with a fellow believer who had no desire to do so, I asked her if she prayed to God asking that He ignite a passion for His word. That thought had never occurred to her so I pointed out that His desire is to exalt His name and His word above all things (Psalm 138:2), so why wouldn't He answer that prayer? We prayed it right then and there. Days later she picked up her Bible and is now excitedly talking about all that she has learned about God in the one book she has read through and cannot wait to pick it up again and again and again. Begging for time in it, basking in the time she has with God learning who He is and what He has accomplished and what He has promised.
After reflecting on these two phenomenal, significant answers to prayer, I began to reflect on all the many mini ways God has answered my prayers as of late. For example, we ordered Brielle's birthday gifts, but one was scheduled to arrive the day after we planned to give her the gifts. I simply prayed that it arrive on that day. It arrived the day before.
This may seem insignificant until I realize how many times God has answered that exact prayer. For example, I am in charge of the baby and bridal shower ministry in our church (which I am years behind in sharing here and may never catch up, especially because I completely spaced taking pictures of the last one, sigh...) and there have been many times the supplies I needed were to arrive after the shower was already over. Each time I pray that God get them here in time and every.single.time. He has answered that prayer.
With these reflections I decided to look back on this years thankful journal. I have been amazed at the ways I thanked Him for answering this prayer, and that prayer. Nearly every page is covered with gratitude for how God answered many mini prayers throughout the last few months even! While not all can be shared here, I cannot even begin to sing His praises for all the ways, big and small, that He has revealed Himself!
In the grand scheme of things birthday gifts are insignificant. BUT God is significant, miraculous, powerful, and faithful to His word. If I ask to gain understanding of who He is according to what He has said, I know He will answer that prayer because He desires to make Himself known, for the exaltation of His word and His name (Psalm 138:2) - which is my point in sharing all of this here. And when He accomplishes that feat in my itty-bitty life, I am amazed by Him and want to glorify Him all the more. Even in the insignificant (e.g. birthday gifts), the many mini answers to prayer become significant in my mind because He has made Himself known. Reflecting on these seemingly mini things allows me to take a step back and trust Him in the big things as well. For He has proven Himself faithful in the big and small.
And I cannot wait to sing His praises as a result.
While discussing the importance of reading our Bible with a fellow believer who had no desire to do so, I asked her if she prayed to God asking that He ignite a passion for His word. That thought had never occurred to her so I pointed out that His desire is to exalt His name and His word above all things (Psalm 138:2), so why wouldn't He answer that prayer? We prayed it right then and there. Days later she picked up her Bible and is now excitedly talking about all that she has learned about God in the one book she has read through and cannot wait to pick it up again and again and again. Begging for time in it, basking in the time she has with God learning who He is and what He has accomplished and what He has promised.
After reflecting on these two phenomenal, significant answers to prayer, I began to reflect on all the many mini ways God has answered my prayers as of late. For example, we ordered Brielle's birthday gifts, but one was scheduled to arrive the day after we planned to give her the gifts. I simply prayed that it arrive on that day. It arrived the day before.
This may seem insignificant until I realize how many times God has answered that exact prayer. For example, I am in charge of the baby and bridal shower ministry in our church (which I am years behind in sharing here and may never catch up, especially because I completely spaced taking pictures of the last one, sigh...) and there have been many times the supplies I needed were to arrive after the shower was already over. Each time I pray that God get them here in time and every.single.time. He has answered that prayer.
With these reflections I decided to look back on this years thankful journal. I have been amazed at the ways I thanked Him for answering this prayer, and that prayer. Nearly every page is covered with gratitude for how God answered many mini prayers throughout the last few months even! While not all can be shared here, I cannot even begin to sing His praises for all the ways, big and small, that He has revealed Himself!
In the grand scheme of things birthday gifts are insignificant. BUT God is significant, miraculous, powerful, and faithful to His word. If I ask to gain understanding of who He is according to what He has said, I know He will answer that prayer because He desires to make Himself known, for the exaltation of His word and His name (Psalm 138:2) - which is my point in sharing all of this here. And when He accomplishes that feat in my itty-bitty life, I am amazed by Him and want to glorify Him all the more. Even in the insignificant (e.g. birthday gifts), the many mini answers to prayer become significant in my mind because He has made Himself known. Reflecting on these seemingly mini things allows me to take a step back and trust Him in the big things as well. For He has proven Himself faithful in the big and small.
And I cannot wait to sing His praises as a result.
