"Make Your Plans Large!"

One of my most prized possessions is my mother’s Bible. Shortly after she went to be with the Lord, I was leafing through the well-worn and tear-stained pages. In the margin next to Ephesians 3:20 she had written, “If God is your partner, make your plans large.”

In that passage of Scripture, Paul wrote, “Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” What power, Paul?

Here Paul is speaking about the mighty power that raised Christ from the dead: the power that is available to Christians that comes from the living God. This power from God enables us to accomplish not only more than is possible for us to do on our own - but we are enabled to accomplish exceedingly abundantly more than we might even be able to ask or think!

God wants to work in and through the lives of His children - you and me. He wants to make His mighty power that raised His Son, Jesus Christ, from the grave available to each of us. So we must expand how we think.

Exceedingly suggests excessiveness and abundantly means overflowing, or an overabundance of something. But he does not end with those words. He continues by adding more than we can ask or think!

 If we sincerely take God at His Word, the only limitations on Christians are the ones we place on God.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, it is beyond our abilities to truly understand the “mighty power” that is available to us. Increase our faith so we, in turn, can do more for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today:  Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Ephesians 3:20

Make Your Plans Large!

One of my most prized possessions is my mother’s Bible. Its cover is well worn - the brown leather comes through the black dye. The pages are turned up at the corners and show wrinkles from tear stains. Verses are underlined and endless notes in the margins show her thoughts and insights about different passages. There are dates next to many promises of God where she claimed them for her husband and children, missionaries and friends.

But there is one verse that sums up her undying faith in God: Ephesians 3:20. In the column next to it she wrote: “If God’s your partner, make your plans large!”

Why?

Ephesians 3:20 says, “God is able to do.” Well, people can “do” too. But the verse continues...

“God is able to do abundantly.” Many times, however, people are limited and unable to do what needs to be done. And then Paul added something else...

“God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask.” What more, if anything, is there, Paul?

“God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think!”

Is there anything beyond exceedingly abundantly?

Only asking and thinking. No wonder she wrote, “If God’s your partner, make your plans large.”

Prayer:  How unfortunate, Father, that we limit You when we limit what we believe You can do for us and through us. Increase our faith to match Your power. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today:   Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20

"Make Your Plans Large!"

One of my most prized possessions is my mother’s Bible. Shortly after she went to be with the Lord, I was leafing through the well-worn and tear stained pages. In the margin next to Ephesians 3:20 she had written, “If God is your partner, make your plans large.”

In that passage of Scripture, Paul wrote, “Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” What power, Paul?

Here Paul is speaking about the mighty power that raised Christ from the dead: the same power that is available to Christians that comes from the living God. This power from God enables us to accomplish more than is possible for us to do on our own. It enables us to accomplish exceedingly abundantly more than we might even be able to ask or think – if we choose to avail ourselves of it!

God wants to work in and through the lives of His children – you and me. He wants to make His mighty power that raised His Son, Jesus Christ, from the grave available to each of us. So we must expand the way we think.

Exceedingly suggests excessiveness and abundantly means overflowing, or an overabundance of something. But he does not end with those words. He continues by adding more than we can ask or think!

If we sincerely take God at His Word, the only limitations on Christians are the ones we place on God.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, it is beyond our abilities to truly understand the “mighty power” that is available to us. Increase our faith so we, in turn, can do more for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.