What do you imagine is the greatest thing that God could do in your life? Do you have it mind? Now, take a look at what the Apostle Paul says about God’s ability,

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

God is able to do “far more abundantly beyond” all that you can ask or think. Paul tells us that God does super abundantly beyond what we can imagine.

Part of problem is that we settle for goals that are too low. We imagine what we can do, but we leave God out of the picture. We see an example of this type of thinking by Jesus’ disciples. A large crowd followed Jesus because they saw the signs which He was performing. Jesus saw the large crowd that was coming to Him and He asked Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” The Bible indicates why He asked Philip this question,

This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. (John 6:6)

Would the disciples rely upon their resources or would they include God in their solution? The disciples looked at the situation from a human perspective,

Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.” (John 6:7)

One of His disciples, Andrew, brought Jesus a few resources, but he didn’t see how they could help,

“There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?” (John 6:9)

Jesus had the people sit down and He would show them that He could do far immeasurably more than what they could imagine,

Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted. (John 6:11)

Then after the meal, to reinforce the lesson to His disciples, he told them to gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing would be lost.

So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. (John 6:13)

Now that’s far more abundantly beyond all that that they could ask or think! Each disciple had a basket of food that was left over from the five loaves and two fish. We may not realize God’s resources until we attempt to do what is humanly impossible. The disciples learned an important lesson that day,

My inadequacy + God’s all-sufficiency = All things

When I bring my resources to Jesus, meager though they may be, and combine them with God’s all-sufficiency then I can do far more abundantly beyond all that I can imagine. What is a situation that you’re facing in which you feel inadequate? Don’t simply rely upon your own resources. Bring them to God and you’ll be amazed at what He can do!

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Chu,rch at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

Follow me on twitter:  rickhiggins5