Often times we only pray for the big crises in our lives. But as you can probably tell by the title, we need to also pray for the little things. The Bible tells us that without God's breath, we would become dust (Job 34:14-15). We can do nothing without God.
When I was younger, I had excellent lungs, but I got sick in high school and developed asthma. Ever since then, I have been learning that I can't even run and breathe without God's
help. If it weren't for God making it possible to have my inhaler, I couldn't do one of my favorite things, running, without feeling an awful tightness in my chest. Yes, I hate that I can't just get up and run when I want, but I am becoming grateful to be able to run in the first place.
One of the things that God has revealed to me is that corruption is not sudden. It is slow and subtle. It is hard to see at a glance. It often looks good as it creeps into our lives little by little. Everything is good and slowly it becomes corrupt. It may seem sudden, but that is because we do not see it right away. Like a leaky water bottle in our back pack, we don't see it leaking and soaking our hard work until it is too late. This is why we must guard against corruption in not just big things, but little things too.
Another thing God has been showing me is that sometimes things don't have to be big. They can be small. Sometimes they are better small. You do not have to shout at people when you tell them about God. You don't have to flail your arms the most when in worship or prayer. God does not only engage the loud and big. He will engage the quiet and small too.
Let us remember David. He was the youngest of his siblings. No one thought he could become anything important, not even his own parents. When Samuel came to David's father, Jesse, to anoint one of his sons to be the next King of Israel, David's father did not even call David in. But
God had big plans for David. It was David, the youngest and seemingly least likely to be anything important that was chosen by God to become King of Israel (1 Samuel 16:5-13). He did become king despite what others thought. He made a promise to David to establish his house, kingdom and throne forever (2 Samuel 7:16). While David messed up (2 Samuel 12:13-14). God still kept his promise to David that out of his own flesh and blood would rule on the throne forever. Now that we know this, let's look at the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:6-17, "and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife, Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father Abijah, ....... Elihud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah. Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah." So, it is that Jesus is a descendant from David and He will sit on a glorious
throne (Matthew 19:28, Luke 1:32-33, Matthew 25:31). Now we see how God took a small shepherd boy and made him the ancestor of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Often times, it is from the smallest and weakest things that we get our greatest things. God chooses to use the small and weak because they can't do it on their own. God is revealed and glorified through them. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 it says, "But he {Jesus} said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." God uses the weak to do his will, because then we know it is not by their power, but by His alone. In this way, we will be able to give God all the glory and remember to keep our eyes on him instead of ourselves.
So, if you feel small and worthless, remember that little things are important to God too. Be wary that the enemy doesn't convince you that you are useless or that you are the most important. Be humbly aware of God's great love for you and the great value He has for you.
Related Scripture:
Job 34:14-15 "If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, all humanity would perish together and mankind would return to the dust."
1 Samuel 16:5-13 "Samuel replied, "Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed stands here before the Lord." But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "The Lord has not chosen this one either." Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, "Nor has the Lord chosen this one." Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The Lord has not chosen these." So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered. "He is tending the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives." So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; this is the one." So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah."
2 Samuel 7:16 "Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.'""
2 Samuel 12:13-14 "Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord." Nathan replied, "The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die."
Matthew 1:6-17 "and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife, Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father o f Asa, Asa the father of Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah, Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Elihud, Elihud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar, the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah. Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah."
Matthew 19:28 "Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
Luke 1:32-33 "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.""
Matthew 25:31 ""When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne."
2 Corinthians 12:9 "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."