I guess it’s not easy to cash a check from God.
Maybe you missed the story of the 21-year-old who was arrested at an Indiana bank after he tried to cash a check for $50,000 that was signed “King Savior, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Servant.”
Upon his arrest for bank fraud, a felony, authorities found several other checks that were signed the same way but made out in different dollar amounts, including one for $100,000.
Last I heard, he was being held on a $1,000 bond.
And, no, the court wouldn’t take a check.
Now, this isn’t really a devotional about curious bank transactions. This is a devotional about prayer. And on that subject, our God really does offer some sizeable checks to his people. Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Luke 11:5-13).
Our prayers don’t always reflect that confidence. Instead, we assess the data and calculate the odds and then bring a request to God that we think is within reason. That’s why I can identify with the story in Acts 12 that we’ll study this Sunday. Herod had arrested Simon Peter with plans to execute him, “but the church was earnestly praying to God for him” (verse 5). When an angel miraculously rescued the church leader, Peter arrived at a home “where many people had gathered and were praying.” He knocked, and when the servant girl heard his voice, she exclaimed to the prayer circle, “Peter is at the door!”
Their reply? “You’re out of your mind.”
Yep. The church that had witnessed so many miracles couldn’t believe it when God answered their prayers for Peter.
We can be a lot like the folks in Acts 12. We’re often more prepared for God to say “no” than for God to say “yes” when we pray to him.
Don’t get me wrong. God doesn’t say “yes” to our every prayer, and we need to learn to trust him when our requests are turned down. But I think we disappoint God when we decide ahead of time what kind of requests match his ability and willingness. Ephesians 3:20 says that God is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.”
And you can take that to the bank.
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