Length: 5 minutes

There are different reasons why people don’t expand their minds to believe the full potential of what God can do through them. One of those reasons is, when people think “big plans” they think “a lot of work.”

Because people on this earth are very much alive in their own might, when they think about big results they think about big effort. When the church has the same mentality, we won’t allow our mind to fully believe the greatness of what God can do through us. It sounds good at first, but then it just starts looking overwhelming and beyond us.

For instance:

God wants to do things through you that are very expensive. I mean, ministry opportunities that cost a lot of money. One scripture that tells us this is 2 Corinthians 9:8, which says God wants us to have an abundance (excess, referring to money) for every good work! God has big plans and it all costs money! Not everyone needs to be the head of a ministry, but God wants you to have an abundance to fund whatever you’re doing.

To some that might sound great at first. But when you start thinking about it, you allow God’s big plans to start feeling like a lot of work. The size of the task can start intimidating us. The whole thing just sounds too far beyond our talents, our know-how, and our budget. We end up feeling like, “Let someone else do that. I’m tired and it sounds like a lot of work and money.” 

I have news for you. Because of a New Testament reality called “death by the Holy Spirit,” BIG plans no longer need to mean BIG effort. You can see the big plans God has for your life without the effort it would normally take.

What do I mean by “death by the Holy Spirit”? No, I don’t mean falling over when someone prays for you (haha)! The word “death” in the Bible means “rest” (see our glossary for more). It means that God has put the life of His Holy Spirit inside of you. Now your decisions and living can be done by the Spirit (Galatians 2:20)! I don’t mean it starts out that way. You need to renew your mind to it, but it can be that way in your life! The Bible essentially says (paraphrase), “If we have the life of the Spirit, let’s walk by the Spirit!” Why would God put the life of His Spirit in you if He expected you to live for Him? You’re dead! You have God’s life now! Use it by believing it!

Galatians 5:25 (KJV) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Walking by the Spirit doesn’t mean doing what the Spirit wants you to do (that’s what the Old Testament was). Walking by the Spirit means you’re not walking, but the Spirit is (Romans 7:6). We have tons of teaching on “rest” if you want more.

Once you know these principles, it allows you to accept God’s BIG plans because you know He’s not asking you to fulfill it yourself. 

You no longer refuse it because you can’t afford it. He’s not asking you to pay for it!

You no longer refuse it because you’re tired. He’s not asking you to exert yourself!

You no longer refuse it because you’re not talented in that field. He’s not asking you to do it!

When you know that you’re dead and the Spirit lives, it allows your mind to accept God’s big plans for your life, without putting them in the box of what you can do yourself! It takes the lid off your potential because it’s not you living anymore but Christ living in you! Now, you’re not limited to your potential anymore. You’re dead! You’re only limited by His riches in glory!

If you look at your budget, your abilities, your intellect, you end up (even unconsciously) severely limiting the plans you’ll accept from the Lord. You won’t even allow your mind to go there because you don’t want to deal with the work, the stress, and the mind-power it takes to get there. 

Some people think, “I’ve been there before, and I’m not doing that again.” Well, it doesn’t need to be the way it was before. You don’t need to limit God’s plan in order to limit the stress and anxiety. He’s not asking you to do it yourself! That’s what eliminates stress and anxiety – not limiting His plan, but completely eliminating your role in fulfilling it.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 (NKJV) He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

Now, I’m not saying there won’t be a lot of things your flesh is doing (1 Corinthians 15:10). I’m saying it can be the Spirit doing it through your flesh! It’s not pie in the sky. This can really happen for you — where God starts thinking through your mind, speaking through your mouth, making decisions for you, and taking your work away. There will be plenty to do on the outside, but it can be Him doing it all. Even when you make mistakes, because you will as you grow, that same Spirit will work all things together for your good (Romans 8:28).

In all of this, you do have a role to play. If this happened automatically, then everyone would be living in it, which is simply not the case. Your role is to learn the good things Jesus put inside of you — the power, the wisdom, the perfection that is able to live through you. When you understand it, it all comes out through your mind and body. The more you devote your mind to understanding these things, the more they will come out.

Stop limiting the plan of God for your life to escape stress or anxiety. Don’t limit your life to what you can do, because He’s not asking you to do it. He’s asking you to believe Him. Once you know that, you’ll allow your mind to wander around the expanse of God’s potential for your life. You won’t be afraid to do that, because even though it’s big, you know you don’t have to do any of it yourself. You get the best of both. You get the BIG plans with BIG rest!

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