The Little Things

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

       Since about the age of 7, I have loved journaling my thoughts! As a young girl my journals were classic "Dear Diary" entries filled with emotional roller coasters of crushes, best friends, and family stories. As I grew up so did my entries (thank goodness)! In middle school my mom challenged me to begin writing down my prayers, and soon my journals were filled with thoughts, questions about life, and many prayer requests! This is when the incredible power of prayer became real to me. Sure, I had heard people say that before and I knew prayer was important, I just didn't realize how much my life could be changed through prayer. 

     As I started writing, I could physically see documented answers to the prayer requests I had written days and even months before. During my last few years of college I wrote very specific prayers for the beginning of life on my own, and over the last few years I continue to see those prayers answered in ways that I could never have thought of just a few years before. The entries have allowed me to see how far back God was piecing my life  together for my future. 

   My journals have always offered me the reassurance that God has his hand on my life and is constantly at work. However, they  have also shown the hesitations in my prayer life. Mentioning requests concerning cancer, death and salvation have always been a part of my prayers; but what I was excluding was the tiny details of my life. I used to feel that many things were too small to mention. God had so many other huge issues to deal with, I felt selfish mentioning the little things I was worried about.  However, when we read Philippians 4:6 again it says in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God.  Philippians does not say, only present your biggest issues to God because God already has a lot on His plate. Instead, it says present EVERYTHING to Him details included. One of the beautiful things about our God, is that he can handle the biggest of situations and the smallest. He really does want us to come to Him with all that is worrying us. He cares about the details even if the world may consider them unimportant.

        The power of prayer is a very rea, awe inspiring gift. We have the ability to speak with God whenever and wherever we want no 4G LTE required. I wonder how many of us actually recognize the beautiful gift that we have. How many old testament characters would have loved to enter the Holy of Hollies and talk to our God whenever they wanted? I challenge you to fully embrace the ability we have to communicate with our God. Do not let Satan cause you to doubt God's ability to handle the even the smallest issues in your life.  Sometimes it is in the small details that we feel God work the most. I love this quote by Pastor Rick Warren,  "Satan tries to limit your prayers, because he knows your prayers will limit him." 

     Throughout your day take advantage of this incredible opportunity to PRAY about anything. Allow Him to show you that He is listening. It doesn't matter when or where, our God has made himself available to us at all times. He is listening and He cares about the details of your life, as well as the storms that are shaking the world. I will never understand how He can listen and answer every request  brought to Him, but that is why He is God and I am not! Isn't it amazing to know that the Ruler of the Heavens and Earth keeps the world spinning while also listening to the details of your life! 

Psalm 116:2 Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!