ABOVE ALL
“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, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (NKJ)
-Ephesians 3:20-21-
My mother’s favorited verse in the bible. What powerful, reassuring words! This verse shows the majesty, the power, the actions above understanding, from our mighty God. The verse before it, tells us there is no way, in our limited knowledge, that we can understand the love He has for us. The word exceedingly, in the above verse, means: extremely. The word abundantly means: in large quantities, plentifully. Above all means: more so than anything else.
I feel like we try to limit the power of God. I feel God works in our lives every day in so many different glorious ways, whether we know it or not. There is no way we can understand the depth of that power. The Old Testament and New Testament tell us so many stories of men and women who experienced the unbelievable power of God in their lives. Let’s look at one of them.
In the book of 1 Samuel 17, is the story of David and Goliath. The Israelites were afraid of this giant. (verse 24) Manuscripts say he was 6 ft. 9 in. When David went up against Goliath, he did not wear any armor. It was too big and heavy. He could not even walk with it on! (verse 39) David only used a sling and a stone. Hit the giant smack in between the eyes and it sunk in and killed him. Did David all of a sudden pick up some stones and a sling and just hoped he met the target? How in the world could that have happened with just a simple, young shepherd? Well, you know the answer. God showed His power thru this young man in his life previously. So, David had the confidence that God would be with him now. The rest of the nation looked at Goliath and said he was too big to kill. David looked at Goliath and said he is too big to be missed! Verse 45-46 says, David talking, “…I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand…” How could David, a mere shepherd boy, have had such confidence? Well, let’s look at some reasons and then apply them to our lives and the confidence WE should have in the Lord being able to do more than we can even imagine.
David was a young shepherd. We sometimes think of a shepherd being meek and without strength. But in reality, a shepherd has to protect the sheep from all kinds of danger and predators. He loved his sheep. Looked for lost ones. A shepherds sheep hear his voice and recognize it. The shepherd guides them. Jesus is known as the shepherd. John 10:27-28 says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish and no one will snatch them from my hand.” Jesus guides us, He protects us, He reaches out to us when we are lost and need help. In David’s case as a shepherd, this chapter tells us that a lion and a bear had come against his sheep. He had killed them with his bare hands! (verses 34-35) Thru the years before Goliath, God had been preparing David for this victory over this giant. He had probably used a sling shot and stones to kill off animals who were threatening his sheep. He would have had time to think, out under the stars, while taking care of those sheep and he grew in faith and confidence of his mighty God. David had time under those stars to think and prepare himself, realizing the mighty power of God. He knew that God was the reason for his victory over the bear and the lion. Verse 38 says, “…the Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine…” Because David saw the works the Lord HAD done thru him, he had confidence and faith that God would help him NOW with this giant! He knew that God was working through him “…according to the power that works in us…”
Isn’t that true in your life as well? When I prayed that we wouldn’t have to lose our home from foreclosure and we lost it anyway, I did not understand. I had truly prayed in faith and confidence that somehow this would not happen to us. Now as I look back, I see why God answered my prayer with a no. We had thirteen steps in and out of our house. My husband, as time went on, had trouble getting up and down those steps. When he passed away, we had been renting a one level duplex without any stairs. If I would have still had that house, my kids and I would have to dish out a lot of money to fix it up and go through the hard process of trying to sell a home. God DID answer my prayer! Just not the way I thought. We pray asking God for something. But this verse even says what we are thinking. Even in our thoughts, when nothing makes sense to us, God can take care of us for our future. Even when we did not know that we needed Him. God takes care of us, answering us, working for our future, even when we don’t know what we will need. “…Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…”
Sometimes we treat God as a means to the goal, but God is going to use the deficiencies and happenings in our lives to show who He is and to show He is all powerful and truly in control for our good and for His purposes.
God can lead us just like He did David. We may not understand. We might ask why. We are like a sheep that needs to be led, because God can see the whole picture of our future. I am so comforted in the knowledge that He takes care of me, even when I can’t see. The verses before the ones at the beginning, are talking about the mystery that was revealed. The fact that Jews and Gentiles, all men and women, no matter what race, have God’s power to serve Him “…to all generations, forever and ever.” Thank you, God, as we can stand in Your presence and feel the trust and confidence that you have for us. God has all power and “…to Him be glory…”
Even if we have had God say no to a prayer we have fervently prayed for, we have to realize that God is still working for our good. We have to have trust and faith in God and look back at the things that have been answered no and actually see that God did answer our prayers. Just not in our human vision of the now and the future. God knows what our life looks like in the future. We don’t know what our future holds, but we know Who holds the future. He is preparing us in the past and today for our tomorrows. Don’t put your hopes and faith in this world. Romans 8:31 reads “…if God is for us, who can be against us.” Don’t limitin your human mind the power that God gives us. Remember that He is always for us.
Do not put a limit on God’s “…power that works in us…” He can work through you, a follower of His law. We can be assured by His power because God demonstrated this power when He raised Jesus Christ from the dead and placed him in a position of excellence far above any other power. God is always helping us every day. Maybe you are struggling: financially-with an addiction-pain physically or mentally-as a tired mother changing, it seems like, millions of diapers- working at a job that you don’t like. God is right there. He is helping us learn through the struggles, to give us strength-to give us patience-to give us a brighter future, even if it doesn’t seem possible or make sense. He does so much for us above all we can fathom. He can cause things to happen in our lives, that we never thought possible or even dreamed of. He puts His power, through the scriptures, in us, to fight against the devil and this world.
Now as I look back on my life and the stressful-painful-unbelievable things I have been through, I thank God for them. He helped me to rely solely on Him. He helped me become stronger in the faith. He taught me patience. He taught me sympathy for others going through the same struggles and that I need to tell my story so I can help others. He has truly blessed me beyond comprehension. He helped me realize that He can do exceedingly abundantly above all more than I could ever visualize for my life, because of the past events that I went through. I can rest in the knowledge of my past, knowing that God has been working through my struggles, using them for my future.
Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and put your hopes and faith in the One who “…is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…” To Him be the glory!
Till next time! Keela
(It will be a few weeks before I post another blog. My daughter, my four grandkids and two dogs are headed to my house, (from Virginia to Missouri) Saturday and Sunday. Please pray for their safe journey. Her Navy hubby has been deployed for nine months! They will be here two and half weeks! I have not seen them for just a little over a year, so needless to say I will be in my happy place! Thank you, our God! After they go home, I will fill you all in about the fun we had!)