Dream Bigger
“This bottle was not marked ‘poison,’ so Alice ventured to taste it, and finding it very nice . . . she very soon finished it off. ‘What a curious feeling!’ said Alice; ‘I must be shutting up like a telescope.'”
Few of us are tempted today to dream big. Like Alice in Through the Looking-Glass, some of us seem to be helplessly shrinking smaller and smaller, and we run the danger of drowning in our own tears of unbelief or complacency.
All too often we see only through the lens of our limited experience. And yet, most of us would be able to recite verses such as “All things are possible for those who believe,” and “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” So why, with promises like these, are our prayers so insipid?
What are your prayers like these days? In times past, God has torn open the heavens and come down. I desperately want to see that happen again in my lifetime; don’t you? Don’t you want your children and grandchildren to see it?
The Bible and history tell about times of exciting revival. I’ve been reading a book on the history of revivals in our country: the two Great Awakenings, the Fulton Street Revival, the youth revival that happened in the ’40s and ’50s, and I believe I was a part a revival in the late 1960s to early ’70s called “The Jesus Movement.”
And still, there’s a side of me that subconsciously struggles to even grasp the possibility that God might want to do it again. Maybe we don’t see God working in mighty ways because we don’t believe He would. Maybe it’s because we’ve grown so content with the ordinary Christian experience that we don’t bother asking God for anything more!
What would happen if we started praying big faith-filled prayers like Isaiah’s: “Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down!” I know we can’t engineer a revival. We can’t manufacture one, but we can and should agonize for one.
It’s my hope that we’d start right now, today, and join in the prayer effort for revival and begin linking our shields of faith together and begging God to do what only He can!
The immediate focus of my prayers is that God would bless and pour His Spirit out on this great opportunity, Harvest America. We can, even in our doubting, ask God to give us faith to believe in an answer of divine size.
You can join me and thousands praying for the churches to be revived, and for the lost to be reached, through Harvest America on September 28-29. Simply go to pray.harvestamerica.com, enter a loved one’s name, and start praying daily that God would “do it again”!
23 comments
Maria Favela-Vargas | September 17, 2013
Hello,
My name is Maria and I would like for anyone to please pray for my husband Julio and my family. That God will lift him and us all and that God may bring us great news soon please. This storm of ours is slowy breaking me. I know that God is in control and know the power of prayer so please pray for us.
Thank you.
God Bless.
Lu Anne | September 18, 2013
Maria - I have prayed and will continue to pray for your husband and your family. For God's mighty, mighty Power and Strong Love to flood your lives. He is Alive and Well and living and working among us. Don't ever lose Hope. Much love. In Christ, Lu Trazi
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Anonymous | September 17, 2013
Dear Lord, please bring these two young men, Tristan and Joseluis, to you. Open their hearts and minds to the things of you. They are both kind and loving sweet men who have been jaded and blinded by the enemy and can't see you at all. Please show them your love and mighty power. And please help me to be a good example to both of them. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
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Wanda | September 17, 2013
Cathe, my longings exactly. Life has changed dramatically since I was a child in the 50's and 60's. Though we struggled with huge issues like civil rights, the threat of the Cold War, and many of the same things that are going on today, (and now newer, more dreadful things) there was an unspoken and spoken belief in God that saturated us with hope.
Things are far from that now; but just the power of your post for all of us to agonize in prayer for revival is enough, I hope to get everyone of us in the throne room crying out loud for God to hear and feel our fervent desire to revive us again, to recreate a place in the hearts of mankind for Him.
If each of us will say, "Lord let it begin with me," we can experience life as never before.
Thanks for your timely post.
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Bernice | September 17, 2013
Cathe, I thank the Lord for you and your post, it is right on time for ourselves our family, and our nation. Only the power of prayer is going to change today's world, the way we think and our attitudes that we have for each other. We, as children of God, walking believers, need to come together as one, praying without ceasing for our young people, our families, and our leaders. Satan is busy robbing, stealing, and destroying....we as Christians need to start putting our armor on and our shield, and start fighting back, taking back what God has given and promised us. I will continue to pray for you, Cathe and Pastor Greg, and asking to have myself and my family in your prayers. We are losing so many young people, especially our young men by this this demon. Thank you so much, Cathe.
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Trena Henderson | September 17, 2013
As I read the thoughts and words in regards to "dream bigger" ; Many thoughts come to mind. I say to the virtuous women of God....I shout to you! Come alive, awaken, stop shrinking in fear and distrust. We can make virtue and grace popular again but not without a limitless bit of creativity. Have I got your attention? Women of God, let's be willing vessels of the Holy Spirit and bring the glory of the crown back!
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Trena Henderson | September 17, 2013
Try just for a moment...let go and let God. Turn the looking glass and look down it in reverse. You might be surprised. " my ways are not your ways declares The Lord". My prayer today for all women of God is that we would receive the living water that gives the power to believe and " let go".
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Natalie | September 17, 2013
Amen and Amen. Just the words I needed to hear. I am 36 year old single woman struggling with broken relationships one after another.
Ruth | September 18, 2013
Natalie, praying that your new relationship will not be easily broken, continue to make God your number one relationship and he will give you the desires of your heart.
~Ruth
Donna Smylie | September 20, 2013
I felt compelled to respond to Natalie in reference to her post regarding broken relationships. I prayed constantly for the Holy Spirit to guide me to the man he wanted me to marry and that we spend the rest of my earthly life together. I was 37. The only condition I asked for is that he be a Christian. After two failed marriages and a six-year own again/off again relationship, I was done. I was living in Tennessee, at the time. After making, what I thought was an impossible statement, about getting a job in Los Angeles, After two years, I got a call from the CEO of that company. I agreed to come for an interview. The very day I got to LA, some friends I knew took me to church. That church had a gentleman greeting people. To make a long story short, we became friends, started dating, and 10 months later he proposed (by this time I was 40). We got married 10.12.1991 and will celebrate our 22nd wedding anniversary. God Speed and keep the faith. Remember God's time, not ours!
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Donna Smylie | September 20, 2013
I was delivered from active drug addiction 26-years ago. What a freedom God has given me and all I had to do was pray a simple prayer. Of course, God works through people (e.g., therapist, 12-step programs, Christian spiritual direction, reading God's Word, and attending church). For me, it took honesty, being open minded, and a willingness to stay clean, no matter what! To get, you have to give. What I had to give up was drugs, old "friends," and old hang-outs. What I got was new friends, joy, peace, happiness, and a relationship with God. Without God, I am nothing; with God the sky is literally the limit. I pray that addicts/alcoholics find freedom from active addiction. God is ready and willing, all you have to do is get on your knees and pray; admit that you are powerless over your addiction and come to believe that God is the answer, the only answer.
MAY GOD BLESS THE ADDICT THAT STILL SUFFERS. MAY THEY FIND GOD TODAY!!!
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Patricia Felix | September 17, 2013
Amen Cathe! Thank you...
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Lori | September 17, 2013
A good word Cathe. God is a big God, a really, really, really big God. I love how you sometimes use children's stories to illustrate a point. So I am thinking how Anne of Green Gables always used the term "scope for the imagination." I think sometimes we have no scope for the imagination when wondering how He can work. Sometimes our memories are just faulty. The thrill of a past mighty work of God may have waned after so many years. God can do it again. Revival is huge. But so is God.
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Araceli Jenkinr | September 17, 2013
Praying for this coming huge event, " Harvest America". That every unbeliever would respond to the message of the gospel. God bless
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Pst. Jeri | September 18, 2013
Jabez in 1 Chron 4:9-10 had a big dream and pray to God of Israel with LITTLE, BOLD, SUPERSIZED PRAYER,and GRANTED his request because Jabez read PSALM 50:15 DISCOVERED that God answered prayers. If you dream big, stretch your faith as it is written in 1 Chron 14:11, God of BREAKTHROUGH will show forth.
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Paula Chapman | September 18, 2013
There is a deep longing in me too Cathe, for a moving of God that will lead to revival in our land. There is also a deep longing for God to move in me, that I will be a true example of His grace and mercy to hearts that are so desperately looking for the bread of life.. hungry and thirsty, yet not even realizing they are starving.. That as I offer up my life to Jesus daily, I might be a sweet aroma that points the hearts of the people He brings in to my life to my Sweet Jesus. I too was fruit of the Jesus movement and the sweetness of those days I still remember. I was fruit of your and Greg's love for Jesus as I was saved at Raincross Square. You still let off the sweet aroma of Jesus and I am thankful for your example of living for Him as I now serve Him as a Pastor's wife..
May we and our children and grandchildren see Him move among us again as we allow revival to begin in us and flow out to others..
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Teresa | September 18, 2013
Holy holy holy is our God; nothing is impossible His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
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Julie | September 18, 2013
Please join me in prayer for my older brother who doesn't know The Lord and has stage 4 pancreatic cancer, not looking so great. We as Christians know that Jesus is our only hope..please pray that my brother Jim would accept that same promise of hope. God bless.
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May | September 18, 2013
Lord come to Us!
This is beautiful, is also my verse of the day:
But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. (Acts 20:24 NLT)
O living Word; please come and dwell in us
Lord wipe away, these tears
O Ancient Son; so long foretold
We’re desperate souls, draw near
We need You now
Break our chains by Your glory and power
Make us captive to a holy desire
Come to us O Lord
Come to us O Lord
Prince of Peace, Emmanuel
Lord draw us close, unto Thyself
King of kings, God’s chosen One
We need you now; to Thee we run
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Adriana | September 19, 2013
I want to pray for all the young children and adults that are struggling with drugs. They feel no one loves them. They've been on their own since their teenage years. Adults that have a drinking problem feel abandon from family members. They are still children of GOD. If God can move a mountain, He is able to help them. Take time to pray with me. GOD BLESS EVERYONE.
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Monica | September 20, 2013
Please pray that God will give me the strength to keep on pressing forward. I have had a pinched nerve and pains in my arm almost all day everyday, it really stinks. I look healthy, but I feel horrible. I go to therapy 3x a week and it only helps a little bit. I feel like giving up, but I know this walk with Jesus is not always perfect and He uses the most painful things to make us trust more in Him and see His strength. I pray a lot for almost everyone I know, and this illness has given me a lot of time to pray that's for sure. I really think God is up to something big with this Harvest thing and I can't wait to see it. Yes this world is getting worse and the devil is busy beating up Christians and accusing us BUT GOD is with us and we will make it!!! Thanks for the encouraging words to stand up and believe and be strong in the Lord. Let's remember all the past victories and God uses silly things to confound the wise.
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Anonymous | September 23, 2013
I ask for prayers for my family. We are greatly struggling to make ends meet, but deeply pursuing GOD. I ask for all that can to say a pray for my family and me, for the next step to be revealed. Also my husband has a great calling on his life. He is seeking God with all he has. Please pray that God's will be done in our lives. Thanks
M | October 2, 2013
Praying for you and your family to be blessed and abundantly provided for.. And that He will guide you in this time. God bless you!!
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Odalys | September 28, 2013
Please help me in praying for my sister; for she is going though a difficult time. And for the rest of my family. Also my church so that we as a congregation can continue to grow spiritually.
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Pamela | September 30, 2013
Oh Cathe, what you share is a huge penetrating desire of my heart. How I long for God to rend the heavens and come down.....I have been praying big for many years...I have also experienced the most difficult times in my life over the past several years! Oh how God purifies us through these times. I have seen beautiful miracles of salvation in my family. I have watched God answer some of my most desired global dreams. I would love to hear more from you regarding dreaming bigger! May God rend the heavens! Thank you so much!
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Kentu | September 30, 2013
From our hearts to God's Presence!
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Charlotte Matheny | October 19, 2013
It was 1972...my husband and I were youth advisors at a small church in Orange County. We began taking our teenagers to the Maranatha concerts at Calvary in the tent. The Holy Spirit came upon us all and soon we were taking the teens to Knotts Berry Farm and riding the rides lifting our index fingers and shouting "One Way with Jesus! We would gather and witness about Him to complete strangers...many of the teens would comment in their yearbooks...to the question..."where would you like to be in 10 years?..."raptured with Jesus....we called it the Christian Woodstock. Our son grew up to become a missionary with Campus Crusade and Athletes in Action. It was an awesome time...oh Holy Spirit come anew and pour out upon us...renew us, inflame us...in Jesus Name I pray ...Amen...Cathe perhaps you were one of those teens and now a grandma...blessings Char
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Velory Irungbam | March 31, 2014
Please pray that God will remove the cataracts and scales from the spiritual eyes of my husband 'Som' and my in-laws and receive a revival in their life. Let God use them mightily.
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