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 her insights. There are dates next to many promises of God where she claimed them on behalf of 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 that verse, she wrote: “If God’s your partner, make your plans large!”

Why would she write those words?

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

“God is able to do abundantly.” People are limited and often unable to do what needs to be done without including God in the equation.

“God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask.” Is that it, or what more, if anything, is there for us to ask, Paul? Is there anything beyond exceedingly and abundantly?

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

We often limit our asking and thinking because we limit the power and might and Sovereignty of God. 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: Ephesians 3:20 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.

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 her insights. There are dates next to many promises of God where she claimed them on behalf of 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 that verse, she wrote: “If God’s your partner, make your plans large!”

Why would she write those words?

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

“God is able to do abundantly.” People are limited and often unable to do what needs to be done without including God in the equation.

“God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask.” Is that it, or what more, if anything, is there for us to ask, Paul? Is there anything beyond exceedingly and abundantly?

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

We often limit our asking andthinking becausewelimit the power and might and Sovereignty of God. 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: Ephesians 3:20Now 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.

Start Where You Are!

A pastor once thought that it was his responsibility to change the world. For years he struggled and worked. He finally became so discouraged that he decided to quit pastoring.

However, one day while thinking about things, he had a moment of insight, He decided to utilize a new strategy. “I’ll change my Elders. That’s the place for me to begin.” But he soon realized that this was not going to happen. Their resistance was fierce and he soon gave up.

“Since they didn’t respond,” he said to himself, “I’ll change the order of service.” So, he rearranged the hymns, the responsive reading, when the offering was taken and when the choir would sing, but that didn’t work either. People still complained about everything: the length of the service and even the sermons. Finally, they threatened to quit supporting the church financially.

Suddenly he felt threatened, and said to himself, “I wonder, Could it be me?”

David had it right when he faced himself and said: “Search me, O God, and know my heart. Test me and know my thoughts.”

It is easier to look at the lives of others and see things in them that we think they need to change. It is also much easier to want them to change than to have the courage to change ourselves. God will work through us. But, He wants us to work on ourselves - to see the sin that is in our lives that He sees. And when He removes the sin and shortcomings from our lives, we will become like Him. And, when we do, we will become an example for others to change.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us not to be concerned about what others need to change in their lives, but what we need to change in our lives to be more like You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today: Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Start Where You Are!

A pastor once thought that it was his responsibility to change the world. For years he struggled and worked. He finally became so discouraged that he decided to quit pastoring.

However, one day while thinking about things, he had a moment of insight, He decided to utilize a new strategy. “I’ll change my Elders. That’s the place for me to begin.” But he soon realized that this was not going to happen. Their resistance was fierce and he soon gave up.

“Since they didn’t respond,” he said to himself, “I’ll change the order of service.” So, he rearranged the hymns, the responsive reading, when the offering was taken and when the choir would sing, but that didn’t work either. People still complained about everything: the length of the service and even the sermons. Finally, they threatened to quit supporting the church financially.

Suddenly he felt threatened, and said to himself, “I wonder, Could it be me?”

David had it right when he faced himself and said: “Search me, O God, and know my heart. Test me and know my thoughts.”

It is easier to look at the lives of others and see things in them that we think they need to change. It is also much easier to want them to change than to have the courage to change ourselves. God will work through us. But, He wants us to work on ourselves - to see the sin that is in our lives that He sees. And when He removes the sin and shortcomings from our lives, we will become like Him. And, when we do, we will become an example for others to change.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us not to be concerned about what others need to change in their lives, but what we need to change in our lives to be more like You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today: Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Ask And Ask And Ask Again!

As she tucked little Lynn into bed, her Mom asked, “Have you said your prayers yet?” “Well, not really,” she answered. “I started to say them. I got down on my knees and when I started saying them I remembered that they were the same ones that I said last night. Since I didn’t want to bore God, I told Him the story of the Three Bears. I hope He liked it.”

Our prayers never bore God. Jesus said just the opposite. On one occasion when He was teaching people to pray, He advised them to “Continue to ask until you get what you want; continue to search until you find what you are looking for, and continue to knock on the door that is closed until it is opened.” There is a most important lesson for us to accept and believe.

God will always answer our prayers, but He will answer them in His time and in the way that reveals His perfect wisdom and unconditional love for us. If He were to answer our requests without applying His wisdom and love, it might be the worst possible thing for us. Often we ask for things that, if our prayers were granted without His insight and love, it could be our ruin and bring about our destruction!

Jesus assures us that God will answer our prayers if we insist and persist. Not only will He answer them at the right time but that we will eventually and ultimately understand His wisdom, love and plan He has for us. It’s often hard to believe that He knows what is best for us. 

Prayer: Lord, we ask for determination to keep on asking, seeking and knocking. Give us patience to wait, believing that Your answer will be what we need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today: Matthew 7:7-11 Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.