Stretchhhhhh Yourself!

Fresh Manna 2009© by Pastor Tim Burt

You’ve heard the saying, “If you want something done, give it to a busy person.” Although there is no absolute truth in that statement, it does often play out to be true. Studies have shown that when a person has little going on in their life—little responsibility and little obligation—they accomplish little. They’ve also show that when you give more responsibility to disciplined and responsible people, they learn to take on and manage more; stretching their capacity to do more and do so effectively.

Isaiah 54:2-3 says, “Enlarge your house; build an addition; spread out your home! For you will soon be bursting at the seams…”

God desires to bring increases into our life. But people that can get things done—which is a good thing—often fall into pride over their own ability to get things done. It becomes their identity. God wants our identity, ability and confidence in getting things done to be in Him and His ability working through us. He wants us to stretch and press in our life and He will bless us as we do. But He also wants us to understand that it’s His grace that will help us accomplish things and for His purposes and not so we can be seen as great.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 says, “This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise man gloat in his wisdom, or the mighty man in his might, or the rich man in his riches. Let them boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who is just and righteous, whose love is unfailing, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

You may not know this, but when you set your heart and trust in God, you can do far more than you ever imagined. You can stretch yourself. You will be at the crossroads of, “I don’t know what to do next” with feelings of “I can’t do this,” a thousand times when you stretch yourself. But if your attitude is, “God, I know by your grace and with your help, I can do all things as you strengthen me and give me your wisdom.” then you will be able to do so. You’ll be able to handle and manage more than you ever dreamed possible. God will stretch the borders of who you are and your life and help you to increase. Do little and you will get little accompanied with the growing slothful desire to do less. Look to God and do more trusting in His grace and you will learn just what you can do in His ability! He will help you manage your work, your family, and all your life in His balance—all while He increases you!

And let me close by adding the most important part of this secret revealed by God about stretching yourself. Prayer is the key to it all. It is the number one thing. It’s the chief discipline. It’s not legalistic. It’s that heart-felt time with God through His Word and prayer that will fuel the stretching and increase of your life. It’s where your faith to do so will come from. It’s where your trust in Him will be refreshed. The promises of God will catapult you again and again. Jesus modeled that. He said He did “nothing but what the Father told Him.” He saw that communion with His Father was where the grace and words of direction and faith came from that led His path. So it should be for us. When prayer for increase goes forth and increase comes, more prayer for facilitating that increase is required, or else you are making the statement that you are doing it yourself.

Luke 12:48 (NLT) “…Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given.”

In His love,
Pastor Tim