Exceedingly and Abundantly Above All

The use of alliteration has the power to transform a mundane observation into a profound maxim.  Just because words rhyme, however, does not mean they are necessarily true.  One such statement I heard years ago is, "If your mind can conceive it and your heart can believe it, you can achieve it."  While there can be correlation between committed drive to meet a goal and ultimate success, effort alone is no guarantee of a positive result.  Many people have dreamt big and invested their all, yet they failed to achieve all they hoped.

This prescriptive formula does not account for the many people who achieved and accomplished exploits beyond their wildest expectations.  Looking back they plainly admitted not conceiving in their minds nor holding  belief in their hearts for all that later eventuated.  It can be satisfying to work towards goals and the achieve them, but the believer is called to realise all our ability and fruitfulness for our efforts is by the grace of God.  As it is written in Deuteronomy 8:18, "And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day."  Joshua was able to say at the end of his days not one word failed from God's good promises, for all God said had come to pass.   It isn't the visionary or humanist that actually accomplishes anything, for whether man realises it what we may call success is all by God's grace.

Do you know your wildest dreams cannot compare to what God Who exceeds all expectations knows and plans?  We ought to pray for the desires of our hearts God has placed there, but know He is not in any way hindered by our short-sighted vision and plans.  Paul says God is able to do exceedingly above all that we ask or think in reference to heavenly, enduring riches that are beyond price.  He wrote in Ephesians 3:14-21:  "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, ¹⁷ that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--¹⁹ to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.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, ²¹ to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

How many things Paul lists here we would not have considered to ask for a birthday or Christmas present:  strength through His Spirit, to have Christ dwell in our hearts by faith, to be rooted and grounded in God's love, that we could understand with all believers the fullness of God's love beyond reckoning, and to be filled with the fullness of God.  By the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit Paul prayed for these things, and God would be faithful to do more still.  That is the power of God that is at work in the mind and heart of every believer, and the work God has begun He will be faithful to complete.  Isn't it wonderful to know to God will "be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever?"  It is also written in 1 Corinthians 2:9-10:  "...Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." ¹⁰ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God."

We are called to believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God, not to conceive or achieve.  Even if we conceive the most awesome things imaginable God and His plans are infinitely greater; and should we achieve anything it is not our plans coming to pass which are worthy of notice because God can do everything.  Our ability to think, the measure of faith we possess and all achievements we might receive credit for are accomplished by God and He is worthy of all glory.  He reveals, strengthens, indwells, instructs and does in and through us "exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think."  Praise the LORD!