Pray Big!

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Last week, I had the awesome opportunity to attend the Children of Prisoners Europe Annual Conference in Stockholm, Sweden. The conference venue was the beautiful Operakallaren located across the street from the Royal Palace of Stockholm In the midst of this breathtaking location, we discussed some of the sobering topics surrounding the needs of children with incarcerated parents.

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It was a once in a lifetime experience for me. And yet, I was carrying on my heart a heavy load of concerns, work-related proposal deadlines, and unanswered prayers. And I wasn’t alone. One of my team members was carrying heavy burdens of her own. So one day after the conference, we decided to walk around the city, talk it out, and pray big.

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What does praying big look like? Praying big is to ask God for a solution to a problem so big it seems illogical that there is even any possible solution. Praying big is to pray like your life depended on God’s intervention. Praying big is what Hannah did. Her story is recorded in the book of 1 Samuel Chapter 1. Hannah was infertile and desperately wanted a child. She continually sought God’s attention and intervention through prayer for years. She wanted God to completely turn her situation around. On one occasion, she was praying so intensely that the priest thought that she was drunk.

 

“As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.” “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord.(I Samuel 1:12-15

 

She wasn’t drunk. She was praying big! The following year, Hannah gave birth to a son, Samuel, who became a great prophet. Her praying big yielded a big answer that blessed her and her nation.

Is there something you need to PRAY BIG about?

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“Never stop praying.” (‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬ NLT)

 

(photo credits: Linda Freeman, Stockholm, Sweden, May 2015.)

About Linda Freeman

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Linda Pulley Freeman combines her specialized training in environmental and chemical engineering with her deep ministerial commitment as she serves mission fields at home and abroad.

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What People Are Saying

  • There surely is. Thank you for this reminder that one of the first steps is sharing what is on our heart with God (and friends)….

  • I think I pray big most of the time, but in fact, in God’s eyes they are small things. I’m glad God doesn’t have mood swings. He would surely see me begging outside His heart’s door and say, “Not her again.” I remind myself over and over that God answers every prayer. Even ‘not yet’ and ‘wait for my timing’ is an answer. I’m sorry you and your friend were carrying a heavy burden and I hope when you prayed big, God gave you the desires of your heart.

    • Dear Jane:

      Thank you so much!

      Linda

      #praybig

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