1 Kings 18:41-44a
“And Elijah said to Ahab, ‘Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.’  So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.  ‘Go and look toward the sea,’ he told his servant.  And he went up and looked.  ‘There is nothing there,’ he said.  Seven times Elijah said, ‘Go back.’  The seventh time the servant reported, ‘A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.’”

John 1:45-46
“Philip found Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’  ‘Nazareth!  Can anything good come from there?’ Nathanael asked.  ‘Come and see,’ said Philip.”

Zechariah 4:8a, 10a
“Then the word of the Lord came to me:  ‘…Who despises the day of small things?’”

Lord of heaven and earth, with delight and omnipotence you love the weak.

Through apparent insignificance you display immense power.  You test us to see if we are small enough to contain your great strength.

Remind us that your kingdom advances disproportionately to our achievements.  To you we commit each humble act of service and wait for your blessing.

In the name of Jesus Christ we ask this, the Saviour despised in his day who altered endless ages.

Listen to ‘How Great Thou Art’ by Mark Smeby