Expansion

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

It’s high time we stop focusing on our “lack”.  God can do so much more than we could even begin to imagine!  We are called to have big dreams, visions, and expectations.  We are to live as children of the one true KING.  God says that he can do infinitely more than we could ever even think up to ask.  The dictionary describes “infinitely” as immeasurably, indefinitely and exceedingly great. How awesome is that!

We can’t even really wrap our mind around the great work God can do in and through us with the Holy Spirit in us.  It’s truly immeasurable.  We just have to throw wide the curtains of our hearts and trust God with the process and the outcome.

Enlarge the place of your tents, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back, lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. Isaiah 54:2 (NIV)

We need to walk that out daily.  We must not settle for less.  Let’s expand our tent pegs.  Take new ground for God, in our personal lives but also for the Kingdom!  Don’t hold anything back or keep a part of yourself hidden from this work God is calling you to do.

It’s time to break out of our small comfortable tents.  They may seem comfortable but they are dark and cramped.  God is calling us to new territory.  A place of expansion.  A place where He wants to meet us and usher in His kingdom. 

In order to really throw the curtains of our heart wide open we have to be willing to lengthen our cords.  In other words, expansion.  In order to do this we need to strengthen our stakes.  This requires us to root down deep into the word of God.  This stretching of ourselves will only truly be accomplished by allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us.

He must become greater; I must become less. 

John 3:30

We need to empty ourselves out in full surrender and trust God with the expansion process he has planned for us.  Trust Him with the dream he has placed on your heart.  Know that He can do SO much more than we could ever imagine or even hope for!

Jesus, Your power in our lives is so amazing!  You can do more in and through me than I can even imagine or think to ask.  We receive the power of Your Holy Spirit and ask to be used for expanding Your kingdom.  We are ready to enlarge the place of our tent and trust You alone with our hopes and future.  In Jesus mighty name, Amen!

Leave Fear Behind

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.  2 Timothy 1:7

I have known fear.  I have felt that growing, ever nagging fear of failure many times in my life.  I’m pretty sure I’ve known it since I was born.  Many of us experience this.

Why?  What is in us that makes us so scared to fail?  That kind of fear that cripples so many of us from even trying.  Because somehow if we don’t try at least we can’t fail.

Simple answer is fear is from satan!  The enemy knows that if he can keep us crippled by fear he can keep us from walking forward with Christ.  If we’re too afraid to try to walk into the freedom Jesus promised us, then the enemy can keep us bound up.  This in turn will keep us from doing the kingdom work God has called us to.  

I’m trying to be honest here but even this is a scary situation for me.  Putting your fears out there for the whole world to see opens you up to others as well as facing those fears.  I’m ready to face those fears though!  I have to say that to myself loud and proud as it’s still not easy and sometimes I’m really still trying to convince myself!

I have been scared to let my family down as well as myself by choices I make.  Even ones I’m sure were good at the time.  I’ve been afraid of looking foolish if I don’t succeed at things I put out there for the world to see.  What if I pour my heart and soul into something I feel God has called me to do and I fail?  Does that make me look weak?  What will people think of God if I’m such a failure?

If I looked in a mirror more often I would tattoo to my forehead, “If God calls me to it HE will see me through it!”  God can’t fail.  I’m not saying I can’t fall on my face, but not trying is the bigger failure.  When God calls me to do something, even if it looks like a failure to the world, my obedience IS success!

Let’s just say that one more time to really get that to sink in – “My obedience IS success”.  

I’m making the daily choice to stand up to these fears and call an end to them. I realize I can’t do it on my own.  It’s only with the help of the Holy Spirit in me that I can say no to fear!

Father God, I have tried to fight fear on my own in the past and lost the fight.  Please forgive me!  I know I can only truly be free from the grip of fear by trusting YOU with my life.  Help me to follow wherever YOU lead and do it without fear.

In Jesus name, Amen.