Connections 5-18-25 by First Southern Baptist Church

May 18, 2025

“You do not have, because you do not ask God.”

~ James 4:2 (NIV) ~

OUR BIGGEST & BOLDEST PRAYERS

I remember hearing someone say in a sermon (actually, I think it was a testimony), “If I had realized all along that my prayers would be answered, I would have prayed better prayers.”

He was being facetious, a little. But there is also some truth to what he said.

We have a tendency to pray safe prayers, small prayers, never presuming to ask for too much. And we’re careful to include the qualifier, “If it be thy will,” just in case nothing happens.

Of course, praying within the boundaries of God’s will is a fundamental element of prayer; we know this.

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

~ 1 John 5:14 (NIV) ~

Our problem, however, is that we often pray for less than God’s will, with something less than an attitude of faith.

with Pastor Terrell

We pray for a cabin in the corner of Glory Land, while God is offering us a mansion of our very own.

We ask for the ability to accept defeat, so to speak, while God has promised to make us more than conquerors.

We’re asking for the courage to cope, he is ready to give us the power to overcome.

God has promised us great things. We respond by asking for small things.

What if we were to zero in on one or two requests that we know beyond a shadow of a doubt are surely part of God’s perfect will for our lives and what if we made these areas a target of our biggest and boldest prayers of faith?

Things such as: Holiness. Victory. Joy. Courage. Motivation. Patience. Purpose. Power. Self-Control. I could go on and on.

These are the birth-right of every believer. If they’re lacking in any of our lives, there is arguably only one reason.

“You do not have, because you do not ask God.” ~ James 4:2 (NIV) ~

So, let’s be sure to ask.

Blessings on your week as you spend some time evaluating just how big and how bold your prayers actually are and then having the faith to make them more so.

I am looking forward to seeing you this Sunday in worship. I will begin my new sermon series: More Power to You.

This series will teach the principles of living a life of faith: how to define it, refine it, develop it and demonstrate it in our daily walk. We will learn that faith isn’t just a list of the things you believe, nor is it a feeling you try to conjure. It’s a way of life. By walking in faith, we experience God’s unlimited power at work in our daily lives. We will begin with the truth that when we pray, we should EXPECT SOMETHING.

Pastor Terrell