Exceeding Abundantly part 1
I quoted this verse yesterday, but I want to really dig into it. Because I think our perceived place of lack is what holds us back so many times from experiencing, and enjoying, what is available to us. We take what the world throws at us and try to make the best of it instead of tapping into the unlimited realm of the Kingdom of God. So here's our key verse, "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us" (Ephesians 3:20). I say this all this time, but I'm going to say it again: Jesus did it all so we could get it all. The work is finished. We have it all. And yet we still go around with our hands out begging our Father to do something. Guys, we don't need a move of God. God already moved 2,000 years ago on the cross. What we need is a revelation of Jesus so that we can know and understand (and believe) what that move of God was. And look at the end of our key verse, "according to the power that worketh in us." We're always looking outside when we need to be working inside. We're always looking at external situations and trying to find external solutions. But there's a More Excellent Way. And it doesn't come from without, it comes from within. And it doesn't "change" without. It's a light that shines in order to reveal things as they REALLY are, not as we see them with our natural eyes. That's why we walk by faith and not by sight--so we can lay aside the weight and the sin (unbelief) that so easily besets us. We see mountains and valleys, ups and downs. It feels like we're on a roller coaster. But look at Isaiah 40:4 (NLT), "Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places." The straight and narrow way that leads to life isn't hard. It's easy. It's a flow. Because JESUS made the way straight. HE brought the valleys high and the mountains low. I know the old saying, "God gives us mountains to learn how to climb," but while I DO believe we go through things in order to learn and grow (and to build wells in order to help other people through those same things) I think we make it too hard for ourselves sometimes. We make mountains out of molehills. We come from a place of lack. We TRY to overcome instead of understanding that in Him we have ALREADY overcome. There's nothing left TO overcomes because He won the war to end all wars on the cross. We come from a place of lack instead of a place of abundance. Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. That's what's available. More than all we could ask or even think. The mind of Christ is already there. Everything we could ever need--the desire of our heart (which is love)--is already there. All we have to do is LET the mind that's already in us BE in us. All we have to do is know and believe. Let the power working in us... work.