As a friend was expressing their concerns to me the other day, the advice I gave was simple: Think Bigger.
I think that advice is worth taking to heart. Too often we only look at fragmented parts of the big picture.
We read in Ephesians 3:20a “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think…” Yet we often default back to our small thinking when tough situations arise. Life gets rough and we switch back to only seeing a part of the picture, instead of taking a step back and thinking bigger than the current situation.
This is vital to each of our lives because of this simple truth: Your thoughts can propel you to a place your feet can’t lead you.
When things get hard physically, financially, or even socially, it is not the time to be narrow minded about the vision God has given us. Too often, that is our first reaction. We narrow our vision, and subsequently, our lives.
Narrow mindedness will continuously hinder you from moving forward. Quite often, it is a strategy that the enemy will try to use to hold you in bondage to your current situation.
When I first began driving, I wanted to see everything. The road looked so different behind the steering wheel. I wound up getting distracted by everything…in fact, you could always tell what I was looking at because soon enough the car would start drifting in that direction. I hope you know what I’m talking about! (And that I’m not the only one!)
Well, eventually, I grew out of that. I began to keep focused even through the distractions, allowing the road to become bigger in my eyes than whatever else was going on around me.
When situations arise in your life, you need to respond just like a mature driver: keep your focus on what is in front of you. There might be challenges and distractions going on around you, but don’t let that grab your attention. Keep focused on the road before you, and don’t let it crash your life.
When situations arise in your life this is the perfect time to stay focused and think bigger.
If you can’t think of a way out of your situation, you are not going to get out soon. Our thoughts set the stage for our lives.
In Joshua 10 the we see that Israelites were facing a tough situation, but in the moment that counted most Joshua decided to keep focused and think bigger then himself. When he did that, he led an army to victory. This is what he prayed in verse 13…
“Stop, Sun, over Gibeon;
Halt, Moon, over Aijalon Valley.”
And Sun stopped,
Moon stood stock still
Until he defeated his enemies.
Its that moment Joshua had a decision to make; he could have just ordered his men to attack again and again, or called for the archers to take aim, or even called for a retreat! But no, he began to think bigger.
In this moment he stepped out of himself and the situation. He kept focused, and began to see things the way God saw them. When he did that he wound up praying a big prayer that God backed 110%!
When we begin to think bigger we allow God to do exceedingly above in our life. When we stay narrow minded, we limit God, and in doing so limit our success.
Dare to think bigger!
Love in him,
Shellby Celeste