GO BIG OR GO HOME

It's the championship game.

The locker room is still.

Everyone's waiting to hear from the coach.

He comes in and quietly says, "You're either ready to play or you're not. So, go big or go home. That's all I’m going to say."

Huh?

But you see, there's a HUGE message in that very short speech. This is *crunch* time – this is when it counts. Are you ready to lay it all on the line and go for it? Because if you're not, you might as well go home.

I've been thinking about this hypothetical situation the last few days.

Especially as it pertains to my prayers.

A few weeks ago, Sonja talked about praying big. Believing big. Going big with the Lord.

Now I am not talking about health and wealth here.

I don't want to pray for a new car, or to win the lottery, or to have my mortgage paid off (though if someone wanted to do that I might not stop them…just sayin')

I'm talking about the WAY I pray – not so much about the things I pray about.

When I was at the Women of Faith conference a couple of weeks ago, one of the speakers talked about how she was tired of "beggar prayers." She was through with approaching God with pittance petitions in her hands, while sort of apologizing for bothering Him.

It's all got me thinking.

Do I approach God boldly?

He tells me to do that. He's given me the privilege of walking straight through the doors of the throne room, and right up to the very throne. He's given me permission to say, out loud, "Um, excuse me, God. I've got something to talk to You about…"

And, I believe, with a barely suppressed smile, He will answer, "Hmmm. OK, let's hear it, My child."

But I don't often do that.

I come to Him somewhat afraid, somewhat hesitant, somewhat disbelieving that He'll answer any of my prayers.

I come like a beggar –

Now, I'm not talking about throwing respect and awe and humility out the window. Not at all. We are to fear our fearsome God. But, we are not to limit Him either. And I think I limit Him in the way I speak to Him.

Doubting that He is able.

Able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above and beyond what I can hope and think.

I limit Him by what I choose to bring to Him in prayer. How often have I neglected to pray over a situation that felt hopeless, or trivial, or unnecessary? How often have I guarded my feelings? How often have I tried to hide my true desires from Him? How often have I stuffed in my pockets the *real* prayers while giving lip service to the prayers I think I "should" be praying?

Case in point…

I have a particular situation in my life that I don't often pray about. Why? Because I just don't have much hope of seeing the situation change. (Such a horrible admission, I know…)

But over the past couple of weeks, I've been so convicted about this.

It's like I'm in the locker room, and God is saying to me:

"You know what, Sharon? You're either ready to follow Me or you're not. And part of following Me is believing in the impossible, tackling the most unlikely situations, being courageous when the odds are totally stacked against you, taking a leap of faith…

I've been known for stunning upset wins. Remember that empty tomb??"

Yes, yes I do.

God was very patient with a man named Gideon, who not once, but twice, threw out a fleece and asked God to show him a sign. God obliged. And a man with only 300 soldiers defeated an entire army.

So, I'm throwing it out there to God – I'm praying about my "impossible" situation.

You see, I have absolutely no desire to go home – so I'm going big.

I'm going to lay it all on the line with the Lord. The hopeless stuff, the trivial stuff, the stuff that I think might be unnecessary to even pray about. He's gonna get it all. My unguarded feelings, my true desires.

I'm emptying my pockets…

The rest is up to Him. In His sovereignty, He either will or will not answer according to His purposes. His good purposes. I'll trust Him for that. But, as for me, I'm not crawling into the throne room anymore like a dog with its tail between its legs (no offense, Marty…)

Nope.

I'm throwing the doors wide open, and I'm marching right up to the throne.

"Hello, God, it's me…"

Do you have some *big* prayers for God?

Thirsty for some Grace?

Join me at Joan's GRACE CAFE:

(I am also linked today with BRAG ON GOD FRIDAY)

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"