We all know the saying, "It's the little things that count." This worn-out phrase has been used to describe everything from dieting to suitcase weight limits at the airport.

But the little things count most to God. That was the Sunday message from Lon Solomon, senior pastor of McLean Bible Church in McLean, Va. Solomon refuted the principles of Decision Making and the Will of God: A Biblical Alternative to the Traditional View, a book by Multnomah Bible College professor Dr. Garry Friesen.

Friesen contends that God is like a lifeguard who watches over His children and expects them to stay within the boundary ropes of his moral law--those principles and commands addressed in the Bible. He expects His children to obey these limits, but inside the boundary ropes, they are free to swim as they please. In other words, Friesen is saying God does not care about our choices for situations that are not specifically addressed in the Bible, such as whom to marry, what house to rent or where to attend college, Solomon says.

Or in Friesen's words:

It is obvious to the student of the Bible that God's moral will does not specifically address every decision we make. That would be impossible. For not only are there too many decisions to prescribe, there are choices that are required in our modern setting that were unknown in the biblical world--which car to buy, what television program to watch, etc.

Friesen writes in his book about "The Principle of Freedom," as follows: "Where there is no command, God gives us freedom (and responsibility) to choose." But Solomon says that Freisen’s theory "cheapens God’s role" in our lives. It lessens our dependence on God and goes directly against Jesus' own words in John 15:5, when he said, "For without me ye can do nothing."

Here are a few passages Solomon cites:

• Genesis 24 when God leads Abraham’s servant specifically to Rebekah, the woman God had chosen for Abraham’s son, Isaac, to marry.
• Genesis 28 when Jacob flees from his brother Esau and relies completely on God’s leading for his itinerary, clothes and food.
• Numbers 9 when the Israelites followed the cloud above the tabernacle wherever it went.
• 1 Samuel 30 when David asks the Lord if he should pursue the Amalekites, who took captive his wives and his men's families. The Lord says, “Pursue.” David does, and he is victorious.
• Amos 7 when Amos talks about how the Lord told him to go into the ministry.
• Luke 6 when Jesus prayed all night before choosing the 12 apostles.

Because Solomon believes so strongly that God wants to be involved in every detail, he even prays for parking spaces when he travels to Washington, D.C., where daily parking hunts mirror those at the mall on Christmas Eve. Is there anything too small to ask for God’s guidance? Looking at Scripture, it is clear that God wants to be included. He is the Great Counselor, after all. We have free will, of course, and God will both teach and bless His children even through missteps. But we know we cheapen His grace when we go our own way. This teaching has made me think more about how I don't mind taking the big decisions to God, but I often overlook the opportunity to take the little things to Him. It's a deeper encouragement to me that the Great Shepherd cares infinitely more about me than anyone ever could. It is one of the most compelling tenets of our faith, that which beckons unbelievers to take notice and to truly know that the God of the Universe yearns for more than a shallow relationship with them.

Skeptics--even in the Christian world, where we are supposed to be the most in touch with God--laugh at the notion of taking everything to God...but just how grand are the blessings when we do talk to Him? I would like to know others' thoughts...