What if I told you that your prayers might be too big right now?
I know that sounds a little strange, but hear me out. Last month, I had the privilege of traveling on the West Coast for a speaking tour. I also managed to squeeze in some family time around Thanksgiving—it was a season full of blessings.
At one of the church workshops I led, I met a man named Steve. Steve’s words were my biggest takeaway from the entire event, and he completely changed the way I was praying.
There were about eighty people in the room that day. During our Q&A session, Steve grabbed the microphone and shared something deeply personal. He had suffered a heart attack earlier that summer, which had predictably slowed him down physically. As he spoke, he began to tear up in front of the room. And then he asked for prayer.
He did not ask for wealth. He did not ask for a promotion. He did not ask for a spouse.
“Will you pray for me that I can ride my bike again?” he said.
I was floored. His request was so innocent, so unexpected, and yet, it was so real to him. Plain and simple: Steve simply loves riding his bike. It is more than just exercise for him—it is joy, freedom, and a sense of purpose. Steve added that he had even raised $3,000 for charity earlier that year riding his bike. And now, in front of a room full of strangers, he asked for something small—but deeply meaningful—to be restored in his life.
The man wanted to ride his bike.
The Power of Small Prayers
That moment convicted me. If Steve could pray such a humble, simple prayer, what was I doing with my prayers? I realized that most of my prayers these days have been focused on the big things:
- God, my book just came out—please bless that project and multiply the impact.
- God, I am hosting workshops at churches across the country—please bless the attendants and open more doors.
- God, will you bring me a spouse?
- Big, big, big …
These were all important, but I wasn’t doing enough of something just as vital, something I was reminded of when listening to Steve: praying prayers of gratitude for the small things.
- God, thank You for my health.
- Thank You for the roof over my head.
- Thank You for the food on my table.
- Thank You for family and friends who love me.
These blessings might seem small, easy to overlook—but they’re the very things that shape our daily joy and perspective.
Pray Your Prayers, Big and Small
Please do not stop praying big prayers. Please don’t. God can certainly handle our biggest requests. But also, let’s take a moment to be more like Steve. Pray the small prayer. Pray the prayer of thanks. Let’s thank God for the blessings already in our lives.
James wrote, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).
Sometimes, the most powerful prayers are the ones that simply acknowledge what God has already done.
Blessings,
