I must confess, I am one of those people who prays for parking spaces. I also pray about lost car keys, for motivation to go another quarter-mile on my fitness walk, and for guests to be delayed just a little while so I can finish dinner preparations.
My prayer list has included missing puppies, sick chickens, and lame cats. (I was a children’s church leader and prayers for pets were frequent requests.)
Requests for small things make up a large portion of my prayer life. They create a running conversation between the Lord and I as I go about my day. Browsing yard sales I ask to be led to just the thing I’m looking for. In the grocery store, I’ll ask for ideas for the week’s meals. Playing with scrapbook paper I’ll say, “Who should I make a card for today?”
There are many who think if you are going to pray, you should pray big. John Newton would agree with them and the sentiment on the sign. His hymn, Come My Soul Thy Suit Prepare, has the line,“Thou art coming to a king, large petitions with you bring.”
He knew what he was talking about. He was a man instrumental in seeing slavery outlawed in England. His words have inspired me to pray many bold prayers that I have seen answered. Among them are: for a dictator to come to Christ, for my daughter-in-law to carry her babies to full term after losing twins early in a pregnancy, and for the completion of Bible translations in several tribal languages.
Praying big shows we expect great things from God. Praying big gives us impressive testimonies to share.
But are the answers to little prayers any less impressive? Aren’t they evidence that Jesus is interested in and paying attention to the details of our lives? Didn’t He tell us, “the very hairs on your head are numbered” (Matthew 10:30)?
Rosalind Goforth wrote, How I Know God Answers Prayer, a book filled with examples of bold requests and miraculous answers from her many years as a missionary in China. But she also knew the value of prayers for little things. She said, “It is true that there is nothing too great for God’s power; and it is just as true that there is nothing too small for His love.”
Those answers to our small prayers convince us of God’s love and build the big faith we need when we face overwhelming problems. After all, if you can’t trust God for a parking space, how will you ever have faith to be healed from cancer? (Which I have also had to do.)
So, I pray big and bold but I don’t give up the little prayers.
What about you? What are the big, bold prayers that you are praying that will show God’s power? And what little things are you asking for that will remind you of his love?
Connie's Comments 
Jun 06, 2018 @ 07:31:51
Well done Connie, another great blog. It has that characteristic of being easy to read yet not easy to stop reading. Keep the good work going, I know that God is well pleased.
Every Blessing Dave
Jun 06, 2018 @ 08:38:38
Thank you for confirming to me that little prayers matter! I pray little prayers all day, all the time! We have some long conversations at times, too! These little prayers have given me strength to pull me through this past 15 months, especially! Thanks for this message!
Jun 07, 2018 @ 08:55:45
Kay, I can just imagine all those little prayers you’ve said as you’ve sorted through things and memories these past few months. May you continue to see evidence of the Lord’s love as He answeres those little prayers.
Jun 06, 2018 @ 10:11:33
Yes, Connie, small prayers do get answered– a lost necklace and hearing aid, but so do others– a child to come back to church and a national election. Our God is a mighty God and does hear all our prayers!
Jun 07, 2018 @ 08:56:51
Rejoicing with you in these answers to big and little prayers we have seen over the past several months…and I’m looking forward to hearing testimonies of more.
Jun 06, 2018 @ 10:36:34
MAY I SHARE A RECENT EXPERIENCE? I BECAME AWARE THAT MY KEYS FOR THE CAR HAD BEEN MISSING FOR ABOUT A WEEK. MY HUSBAND WAS ALWAYS WITH ME ANS SO HIS KEY STARTED THE MOTOR…ITS A NON-KEY SYSTEM. WE SEARCHED THE ENTIRE PREMISES…EVERY POCKET, EVERY PURSE ABSOLUTELY EVERYWHERE FOR DAYS. WE ORDERED AT GREAT EXPENSE A NEW ONE. THE OTHER DAY I WENT TO MY PURSE TO RETURN KEITH’S KEY, AND THERE ON TOP WAS THE LOST KEY! NO ONE BUT THE TWO OF US HAD BEEN IN THE HOUSE. OF COURSE A LOT OF PRAYER HAD GONE INTO THE WHOLE PROCESS, BUT HOW AND BY WHOSE HAND THAT SET OF KEYS APPEARED ONLY OUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS BUT HE HAD TO HAVE A HAND DIRECTLY IN THE MATTER! PRAISE HIS NAME.!!!!
Jun 07, 2018 @ 08:58:16
Thank you for sharing your testimony of lost keys. It’s another example how the Lord does know about the tiny details of our lives.
Jun 06, 2018 @ 15:15:24
Amen. I have answers to many of my big and little prayers. And I try to remember to thank the Lord for His answers. One of my prayers is for Him to protect me from other people and their mistakes (such as in driving) and to protect me from me and my mistakes (such as in driving and etc.) He has protected me even way before I prayed that prayer. He knows me better than I know myself. There are a few big prayers I have for people in my life that I am still waiting for His answer/help. I am so happy now that some prayers I said that He answered No,
Jun 07, 2018 @ 09:01:49
I say, “Amen,” to being thankful for the answer, “No,” to some prayers. I am looking forward to hearing your testimonies about the big prayers you are praying for people. The wait is difficult, but the rejoicing is great when the Lord answers.