If you're like me, you are a professional when it comes to underestimating God. Sure, I believe God can and will do great things...greater than I could ever imagine. But on a day by day basis, I am a professional at underestimating God.
When something catches me off guard, I act as if God was caught off guard, too.
When I let circumstances tie me down, I act as if God is tied down.
When fear paralyzes me, I act as if God is paralyzed.
When I think a dream is too big, I assume it's too big for God, too.
God used Mark Batterson to smack me in the face last Thursday at Whiteboard. I've heard him make this point before, but that doesn't matter. It never gets old and it's worth repeating everyday of my life.
In Isaiah 55:8-9, God says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways...For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
The farthest known galaxy is 13.2 billion light years away...that's a LONG way...and only Mark Batterson can talk about this stuff with church leaders and get away with it!
Which means that my best thought on my best day is at least 13.2 billion light years smaller than God's thoughts on that day. As Mark said, "Every one of us came in here underestimating God by about 13.2 billion light years."
There is no circumstance that ties Him down. There is no fear that paralyzes Him. There is nothing that catches Him off guard. There is no dream that He scoffs at as too big. If these things are true, then why do I sometimes live and lead as if they are?
What would it look like if you and I lived today believing that God's thoughts for us and the work He has called us all to are far bigger than our own? Would you dream bigger? Would be more willing to take an irreversible step of obedience? Would you trust Him more?
Just thinking about this is freeing to me! Can't wait to see what happens when I act on it.
Jay,
I sometimes wonder if God wants me to dream big, or let go of my hopes, dreams and plans and let Him amaze Me with what He can do. I find that my dreams, like Mark Batterson hit on, are way too small in comparison to what God can and desires to do in and through me. I don't think the human brain can fathom His greatness or the magnitude of His works. One of my life verses is Eph.3:20, which says,
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.
That tells me that God wants to blow me away with what He can do, and that what He can do far exceeds my ability to dream it up. I do believe He gives us glimpses (vision), but we will never fully figure out what God is up to and He will always amaze us if we are open and honest.
I certainly don't have it all figured out. I have big dreams; dreams that I believe are from God. I believe His dreams came when I let go of what I was hoping and dreaming for.
Posted by: Dave Lewis | May 28, 2008 at 04:57 PM
dave :: i agree 100%. when i embrace my smallness, i see God at work the most. and when i see Him at work, my mind goes wild with what could be. that's when those "God-ideas/dreams/visions" come down the pike...but even then, we can only see a small piece of the big picture that God is painting.
thanks for your insight and example!
Posted by: jay hardwick | May 28, 2008 at 05:11 PM
I needed to be reminded of that tonight Jay! Thanks for letting God use you through this post.
Posted by: Pete Wilson | May 28, 2008 at 11:15 PM