Bold Prayers and Bold Expectancy in 2014

I was never the child who asked for much. Never was the crier in the grocery store to get a toy or a piece of candy. No, in my mind as child of a single mother, asking came with the thought of being a hindrance or a burden. I saw how my mother was working two to three jobs so to help out I became the kid of “Well whatever you can afford I will be happy with” or the “Just surprise me!” type. Never really decisive, too much in fear that if I did voice what I wanted and didn’t get it, it would be a form of rejection, disappointment or maybe what I asked for was too much. Even to this day, if you would surprise me with a bag of skittles you would’ve sworn you had just given me an expensive watch or a name brand shoe; very easy to please. This same mentality has carried over in my spiritual life as well, mostly in my prayers. My routine has been:  Give God a list of the desires of my heart, and with no real expectancy that he will provide ALL of my desires, I say to myself “well I know surely he will give me at least ONE of those things off that list –then I will be happy.” And usually I would believe that only the smaller request will come to fruition because just as the mentality that I had as a kid, those same fears and disappointments would loom within my head. On NYE I said that I wanted to have my phone off, and have an open heart unto him because I wanted to break this cycle of settled prayers. Settling for the small prayers; settling with the thought that I didn’t deserve or was not worth those bigger prayers to be answered. However, God says,

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

I wanted to go into 2014, trusting and boldly putting my faith within God that He would grant me those big prayers; those “I don’t know how he is going to do it, but with confidence and expectancy that He will” type prayers. God also wanted me to challenge myself further to put a date on WHEN I wanted my prayers to be answered. So I ask you, Can you trust God with your Bold Prayers? Are you ready for the Results? Let us pray.

Dear Lord,

I pray unto you this bold prayer—asking that you may hear out the desires of our heart, our soul cry, and as we utter unto you our prayers; we pray that you may smile upon each individual request and grant them. We ask that if any of our desires do not align with your will for our life, help us redirect our prespective so that we may not view them as rejection, but as validation that you know what’s best and you have something greater in store for us. Lord, as we wait on our requests give us the strength to not settle for something small out of impulse by trying to rush your timing. Humble our spirit and grant us peace and patience to allow your will to be done. Reign over our lives through and through. In 2014 we ask for : (Now here is where you fill in the blank) _______________________________. In Jesus Name. Amen.

#BeBold