July 21, 2008

Think Big

Big eyes, small stomach – When I was a kid, my best friend Jose and I used to go to MacDonald’s almost every day.  We were little guys but we never bought happy meals, we were Big Mac guys.  We couldn’t really even finish a Big Mac but no way where we going to be caught eating a happy meal. 

We use to even daydream about eating two Big Mac’s but I don’t recall either of us ever doing that feat.  I don’t remember either of us ever buying fries with our meals.  We always had to buy a soda though.  MacDonald’s was one of the first restaurants to offer free refills so we were all over that.  We were Think Big little guys so with our Big Mac’s, we had to have a drink that offered all the refills one can desire.  With Big hunger comes Big thirst.

The saying, “your eyes are bigger than your stomach” came to mind as I was thinking about Jose and me and going to the MacDonald’s on Wilson Way.  We thought we could eat more than our stomach told us because we were brave kids who always were up to the challenge. 

I believe we all have this Think Big mentality but like the little kid who thinks he can eat what the grown-up’s eat but when given the chance he comes up a little short, we need to get back to that attitude.  What I mean is we have to get back to Thinking Big again and attempting to live it out even though we may come up short because there is no shame in falling a little short but to not even try is a crying shame.  I believe with my whole being, God would rather us go for it and come up a little short then to not go for it at all.  In reality, when you go for it for Jesus, do you ever come up short?  We may not do what we think we should have done but we never come up short with God. 

The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians about this attitude of thinking Big.  Now of all the Lord’s servants, I can think of no other person who was in tune with God and knowing how Big God is than the Apostle Paul.  In Chapter 3 of the book of Ephesians, Paul who was a little man physically, saw God and what He can do through anyone who dares to Think Big because He is Big and wants to do Big things through all of us. 

Ephesians 3:20 (New King James Version)

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

The first thing in Thinking Big is to go to Him and give Him His just do.  God is worthy of all praise.  He is the Creator of everything and nothing, including us, wouldn’t be here if it were not for Him and His great love. 

If God only gave you life and no other blessings that would be more than enough for you to own Him everything and for you to give Him all praise and glory which is His just do. 

The second thing in Thinking Big is to acknowledge God is able to do anything.  Paul says in this verse that God is able to do what we ask of Him and even more. 

He uses two key words to demonstrate the greatness of God and how Big He is.

The first word is Exceedingly meaning God can do what we ask but even do greater than what we ask because everything is because of Him and He can do what He wants with everything.  Not only is God able but don’t be surprised when He does more because God has no limits and will do infinitely more than we ask.  He may do something you didn’t even ask because He meets and exceeds what we could ever attempt to ask.  Think Big, Believe Big, and Ask Big because God is Big. 

The second word is Abundantly meaning God can reward greatly because everything is His.  When we ask God, is it Big enough?  I would rather ask God for more than to ask Him for less because it’s safe.  I would rather ask God for the world and Him give me California than to ask Him just for Stockton.  Where’s our faith.  God may not do what we ask but make no mistake, He is more than able to do what we ask and even more than we could ever imagine or dream.  God will do something and it’s going to be Big therefore Think Big, Believe Big, and Ask Big because God is Big.

Here’s a thought for you.  The Cross is so Big that salvation was purchased for all before, while, and after Jesus died on it.  That is the power of God and that is as Big as it gets. 

The last thing in Thinking Big is to live a life of Thinking Big because God has the power.  The Apostle Paul ends this verse with saying it’s all a matter of power.  Life is a search for power and why not go to the Source of all power, God Almighty Himself.  Not only is God all powerful, He makes His power available to all.  It’s not limited to asking God, we all have to have God flood our thinking as well.  We wouldn’t ask if we didn’t think first.  It’s pretty simple in reality, when we think about God, we see how Big He is, and start to Think Big, Believe Big, and Ask Big because God is Big and He has the power.

The Challenge – don’t let the saying, “your eyes are bigger than your stomach” limit your faith because we serve a God who is bigger than our eyes and our stomach, He’s bigger than our life.

The next time you ask God to do something, ask Him, am I asking big enough? because He is Big and is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.

Think Big, Believe Big, and Ask Big because God is Big, does Big, and rewards Big.