BELIEVING GOD FOR MORE
- Gary Ritchie
- Oct 27
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 31
I suspect most American Christians have a sloppy prayer life. I make that assumption because my prayer life is rather sloppy at times as well. Few of us are in constant danger living out our faith as in other countries such as Nigeria. We may not be forced to seek God in the same way as when it comes to life or death matters. God gives us a glimpse of how to receive his best in Hebrews 11:6:
6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
All believers have received the prize gift that compares to nothing else, salvation! A few weeks ago I studied the Greek word meaning salvation, sozo. Sozo (σῴζω) is the Greek verb meaning "save, deliver, rescue, heal, preserve, or make whole". It's the root word behind "soteria" (salvation) and is used throughout the New Testament with a rich range of meanings. Depending on your personal beliefs or the church you attend, the breadth and width of the word is either limited or expansive. I personally believe, with plenty of scripture to support my view, that salvation is more than a “free ticket to Heaven.” It is so much more! And with that comes the challenge.
In my experience as a pastor, I pray weekly with individuals who are dealing with heavy weights. Prayers for a sick loved one or self, financial provision, or healing of broken relationships. Yet I suspect that for many of us have already forgotten what we gave to God on Sunday come Monday morning. Once again, I make this assumption because of my own experiences.
Do you ever treat God like a candy dispenser? Give me this (piece of candy), give me that (piece of candy), give me… (candy), give me again… (candy). You get the picture. We treat God like Santa Claus or a Sugar Daddy God. Please understand that I believe God wants us to give him our every need. But we may neglect a couple of things found in Hebrew 11:6. We may not be asking in faith and we may not be diligently seeking Him. Seeking God is a lifestyle, not a thirty second prayer.
The title of the blog this week comes from a sermon I preached a couple of weeks ago. I was convinced that so many of us miss God’s best because we only give him the easy fixes. Or if we offer a tough fix, we pray, and are already scheming how we are going to fix it if God does not come through. I was challenged to believe God for more! What are your dreams and visions that God has planted in your spirit. Are you believing God to bring those things to come to pass. Are you fully convinced that those prayers that “only God can do” will manifest themselves soon? That is the type of faith that pleases God. It is also the type of faith that moves God to action.
There are not many things that God cannot do. I do believe we can tie his hands. In Mark 6: 3-6, an incident took place in Jesus’ hometown when he was not believed or accepted.
3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him. 4 But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” 5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief.
I wonder how many miracles I missed out on because I could just not believe God for more. When you consider Hebrews 11:6 and Mark 6: 5-6, there is plenty to chew on. May we all be challenged to sincerely seek God with our whole heart and trust him completely. I suspect that God is waiting on us as he opens up the windows of Heaven and pours out blessings that are bigger than we can contain. Let me know when you see God show himself mighty and he performs miracles because of your belief. We will celebrate together! May we all be convinced to believe God for more!
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Have a blessed day!
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