How big is your God?

How you handle life depends on how big you believe God is. If He’s too small: 1) You’ll live in constant anxiety thinking everything depends on you. 2) Your outlook will be dictated by your surroundings – or worse, your critics. 3) Without the acceptance of a loving God you’ll be a slave to people’s opinions. 4) You’ll constantly crave recognition because you don’t understand that ‘your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you’ (Matthew 6:4 NASB). Author John Ortberg says that when we make the mistake of shrinking God, we ‘offer prayer without faith, work without passion, service without joy, and suffering without hope – which results in fear, retreat, loss of vision, and failure to persevere.’ When Goliath threatened the Israelites, ‘they were dismayed and greatly afraid’ (1 Samuel 17:11 NRSV). They didn’t think their God was big enough for the job. But not David! ‘Let no one’s heart fail…your servant will…fight…this Philistine. The Lord…who saved me from…the lion and…bear, will [save us now]’ (1 Samuel 17:32, 37 NRSV). You can face anything when you know what David knew – ‘the battle is the Lord’s’ (1 Samuel 17:47 KJV). And He’s never lost one yet! So you don’t have to depend on your own resources. David may have felt small, but he knew his God was big enough for the job. Do you know that? Eighteenth-century Anglican clergyman John Newton said, ‘If the Lord be with us we have no cause for fear. His eye is upon us, His arm over us, His ear open to our prayer, His grace sufficient, [and] His promises unchangeable.’ It all depends on how big your God is!

Prayer Point

Lord, I know I sometimes forget how great, how powerful, and how trustworthy You are. But no battle is too much for You. No threat can dethrone You. Nothing is impossible for You. So today, Lord, I pray for a fresh realisation of who You are and what You can do. Help me to cling to the reality of You and to know that You’re so much bigger than any problem I’ll ever face.