Above All We Ask or Think
The Word says in Ephesians 3:20 that God is able to do more than any of us could ask or think. But what does this mean for us? Does it mean that God provides more than we need? Does it mean that we should expect more than we want?
Join us as we uncover what ‘above all that we ask or think’ can mean for us!
Ephesians 3:20
To uncover what ‘above all that we ask or think’ means, we must first explore Ephesians 3:20-21 to understand where we are starting…
“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.”—Ephesians 3:20-21
It does not say that God is always going to do more than we ask or think—though He often does—it says that He is ABLE. This is not a limiting of God’s power and ability… in fact, it is the opposite. Because God is wise. He knows what things ought to be above all we can ask or think and what things should not even be.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”—Isaiah 55:9
Since God’s thoughts are higher than ours, when He decides to do above what we ask or think—or not—it is because He knows best.
Sometimes we get off track and think about or ask God for things not meant for our call or season. Other times we simply fail to think or ask the appropriate things; things that might be terrifying in their scope, because they are not things we imagined WE could do, even in HIM. Because they are bigger and greater than we envisioned…
God sees the whole picture, where we only see in part. When we only look at our failures. He looks at our strengths, and the strengths that we can find when we draw near to Him.
“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”—1 Corinthians 13:12
Prepare to be Uncomfortable
When God decides it is time to do ‘exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think’… life begins to shift. We can choose to ignore it or move against it, but amazing things happen when we accept it. Our habits and patterns begin to transform, along with the way we view the world and interact with it.
Still, no matter how open we are to the shifting, there will be a little discomfort. Because in order to shift, sometimes we have to set down things we do not want to, or pick up things we never thought possible. A person from the last season might not get to join us on our new path. Behaviors that were once acceptable in our past season might need altering. Our thoughts typically need to shift. And seldom are we qualified in the natural to answer what God is calling us to…
“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”—Romans 8:37
No matter what God shifts, we are rarely comfortable. Even when a shift is exactly what we desire…
But God is with us through it all. His will and ways are higher than ours, and unlike us, He sees the whole picture. He is ready and willing to do the heavy lifting, all we have to do is open our hearts and accept His plan. We might not always be comfortable in it, but when we press into Him and His plan, wonderful things will happen in His Kingdom and in our own lives!
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”—Jeremiah 29:11
Scripture to Back it Up
Obviously, Ephesians 3:20 states the case for God doing above all we ask or think, but standing firm and knowing that we have not misinterpreted this scripture is easier when we have multiple scriptures coming in agreement. For instance, Ephesians 3:20 says that, ‘according to the power that works in us.’ This is the Holy Spirit—the Spirit of God—but what scriptures confirm this truth?
“And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’”—2 Corinthians 6:16
“Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”—Acts 2:3-4
“Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.”—2 Timothy 1:13-14
These three scriptures confirm not only who God is, but how He moves in and through us…
But what of the portion of Ephesians 3:20 which states, ‘to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think’?
We know that God works in and through us, but by exploring His Word we discover who He is more fully… that God not only has the power to do anything, but that He desires to do good things for us. That what He performs in and through us not only profits the Kingdom, but us as well! Because He loves us!
Scriptures to confirm and remind us of this truth include:
“Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.”—Jeremiah 32:17
“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”—Numbers 23:19
“For with God nothing will be impossible.”—Luke 1:37
…‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”—Matthew 19:26
These are only a handful of the scriptures which confirm this truth, and yet, through them we understand that God is INDEED able to do above all we could ask or think…
Still, is the will of the Lord assured? Can it be made manifest on the earth and in our lives?
“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”—Isaiah 55:11
“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”—Proverbs 16:9
“Who covers the heavens with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow on the mountains. He gives to the beast its food, and to the young ravens that cry.”—Psalm 147:8-9
“There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.”—Proverbs 19:21
Through these few scriptures we realize the truth of God’s promises, of His will being made manifest. And by bringing together all of the scriptures and truths we have explored, we know this also: that God can do above all we could ask or think through Christ Jesus, our Savior! He is Lord and His will WILL be done on the earth…
By opening ourselves to that sovereign will, each of us can walk with our God in unison. We can be a part of Kingdom purpose and accept the upward call that God has placed upon our lives! Because, with God, nothing is impossible!
“God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called.”—Curt Landry