Exceedingly abundantly
“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,” Ephesians 3:20
Exceedingly abundantly! Sounds pretty good, right? Actually it sounds awesome!! But what does it really look like? Ever increasing in the wisdom and the love of God? Filled with all the fullness of God? How? In the previous verses in this passage the Apostle Paul is talking about the manifold (many sided) wisdom and extensive love of God that has become so real to him through his relationship with Christ Jesus. What I wanted to know was how do I see God’s exceedingly abundant work flowing in my own day to day life? My thoughts had always been that it all depended on God. The verse says He is able to do it. To me that meant maybe He will, maybe He won’t; whatever He wants to do. But that’s not God’s way. Again, He puts the choice in our “hands” so to speak. He is all about us making the choice. I realized it when I continued to read the second part of the verse because it says it’s according to the power that works in us. It means the amount of God’s flow in my life is equal to the amount of God in my life. I had never made the connection before between the amount of God’s flow and the amount of God inside me.
The question for me now was, is that power automatically there? Can it grow? Is there more available? What is my part? I soon realized that the answer is “yes!” to all of the above! I had the power and choice to fill myself up with God and His way each day.
Consider this: When you spend a couple hours watching a movie or tv show, or even after you spent the day at work, afterwards that is all that is on your mind for a while. Maybe it was good or maybe it wasn’t, but you are “filled up” so to speak with it. It’s the same with your spiritual walk. In order to see God’s overflow in your life, there must be time set aside to really look for God’s direction and “fill up” your spirit to line up with His exceeding abundant plan for you.
Verse 19 right before says “to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Being filled with all the fullness of God? How is that accomplished? The verse says by knowing the love of Christ. It is a relationship that grows every day. We’ve already talked about how you get to know someone, it’s by spending time with them. God’s love is unconditional and unlimited so we can grow in it by learning more about it and experiencing it more in our lives every day. The more attention given to the things of God and the more time spent in His presence is like filling up your “spiritual tank”. This is how you become full to the overflow. Think about it this way, if you don’t put more in every day you will become empty and dry. It’s like filling up your gas tank or even nurturing your natural body. If you don’t feed it, it will die. If you don’t feed your spirit it will dry up, but if you nurture it and pour the love of God into it, you will be energized to let the exceedingly abundant wisdom and love of God flow out of your life and into the hearts of others.
Today I encourage you to insert a few extra minutes in addition to the time you usually spend with God to “fill up” your spiritual tank. Whether it’s extra time praying or reading God’s Word or maybe simply listening to a podcast as you’re driving or some praise and worship music. Make the investment that will pay off exceedingly abundantly above all you can ask or think!
Today’s scripture reading: Ephesians 3:14-21
The Daily Dose 