GREATER THINGS
March 29, 2021
Prayer: Lord, help me to see the greater things you have for me.
Scripture: I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. John 14:12-13 NIV
I have always been captivated by this verse; Jesus saying that ANYONE who has faith in Him, (that includes you and me) will do what He did and even GREATER things. How could that be? He healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, the lame walked and the dumb talked? How could we ever imagine doing “greater things?” But, Jesus said it, so it must be true!
I am a big proponent of setting goals: personal, professional, spiritual, and even shallow but sentimental. Some people look at it as a “to-do” list while others, myself included, see it more as a “get-to” list or maybe even a bucket list. Lists help us live life more intentionally. They help us plan, save, prepare, and even dare to do something we see as out of our reach or out of our comfort zone. They are thrilling and fulfilling, or at least they should be.
When I was setting my goals for 2013, I had been pondering these verses. The very last goal I made was to, “Do something HUGE!” I had no idea what it would look like, but I knew I needed to pray about it and I would know when it occurred. In May – Sept. of 2013 I had the HUGE privilege to take part in planning and staffing the Pray for America bus rally with the National Day of Prayer Task Force. We rode in a massive bus, wrapped in NASCAR-type wrap with the Pray for America logo across it. Every day we prayed with people and for people. We prayed at Capitols and in high school parking lots, at businesses and soup kitchens, at churches and on the street, at courthouses, military bases and historical landmarks and hundreds of other venues. In all the bus visited 35 states and I was blessed to be a part of many of them. I saw the sick healed, the homeless praise God, cried with the people of Newtown, CT and Moore OK, and prayed with people as they accepted Christ as their savior and stepped from death to eternity – that was beyond HUGE – that was THE GREATER thing! Because Jesus died, rose from the grave, ascended into heaven and sent the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to do the GREATEST thing, share His message and be a small part of someone’s decision to follow Him as Savior and Lord. Up to the point and time when Jesus said His followers would, “do what I have been doing… and greater things,” He had been healing people’s physical bodies, but now He has enabled us to play a part in someone’s salvation! “Greater things” always glorify the Father.
This week I want you to dream big dreams and pray. I will be praying for you to think of some good goals; some professional, personal and spiritual. I pray that some are deep and some sentimentally silly (not sinful, just silly) but a desire of your heart nonetheless. More than anything, I will pray for God to give you a desire that is HUGE; one that will change your life and touch His Kingdom! You do not have to share all of them, some may be very personal, like restoring a relationship or dealing with something in your life, but I do want you to share one or two with some friends who pray, if possible – the HUGE one, then pray for your friends and their goals throughout the year. I know it will be GREAT and glorifying!
Copyright Kathy Branzell. Email [email protected]
This was so encouraging. I started my list with wanting to be a small group facilitator in our church someday. As soon as they start a small group ministry. Thanks for the verse and these words.
Thank you for the reminder that God gives me the capacity to dream HUGE and to live out those HUGE dreams for His glory.
He’s starting to open doors in a new way, and I want to be faithful in the silly and the serious, because both bring the spotlight to His Spirit when I obey.