“But don’t despise the day of small beginnings. If you do little things like they’re big things, someday God will do big things like they’re little things.”- Mark Batterson
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”- Ephesians 3:20
In Chapter 19 (“Out of Your League”) of If, Mark Batterson takes heart in the fact that, when he doesn’t know how to pray, the Holy Spirit is interceding for him. Not only does the Holy Spirit pray for us, Mark notes, the Holy Spirit also prays through us. Pastor Batterson observes that usually happened in moments when we’re asking for something that is out of our league.
Using pro wrestling terminology, Mark explains what happens when we partner with the Holy Spirit:
“But when you tag-team with the Holy Spirit, you’re never out of your league. You’re in league with the Holy Spirit. No one can network or negotiate like the Holy Spirit- He knows everyone, knows everything. And He is interceding for our God-ordained what ifs.”
Pastor Batterson states that our lack of knowledge limits our prayers- we don’t know what we don’t know. We need to trust the Holy Spirit’s intercession more than our intuition. Mark often prefaces his prayers with this preamble. It states: Lord, I want what you want more than I want what I want.
As NCC pastor of prayer Heidi Scanlon mentioned in a staff devotional: “God has blessings for us in categories we don’t even know exist.”
Mark reminds us we’re not omniscient. We can’t see our way around every situation:
“On my best day, I see a very thin slice of reality. But here’s some good news: long before you woke up this morning and long after you go to sleep tonight, the Holy Spirit is interceding for you in accordance with God’s will.”
We simply need to do our due diligence, trust God, and . . . relax.
Today’s question: How can God use the day of small beginnings to prepare you for something in your future? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Unintended consequences”
