STRETCH YOURSELF

 

We are in a world whereby everything is moving fast. Nothing is just stable. Even the environment has it own way of adapting to new seasons. Today, we will be studying about Stretching yourself. What does it means to STRETCH? Many of us get frustrated when God opens up season of enlargement of capacity unto us. We get weary, frustrated, uncomfortable with what God is bringing into our lives. Before we go deep in our talk for today, let's study the word STRETCH. 

According to the dictionary, stretch means “to lengthen by pulling”. Another definition that really got me is “to extend from a limit point to a limit point”. I want us to study this two definition. For example, when you pick up a rubber band, it has it's normal shape, size and diameter. That is the way the manufacturer packaged it. As Small as a rubber band is, it has the capacity to expand. This is the inbuilt capacity of the rubber band. You can stretch it as much as you can till it reach the limit at which it can't expand further. And we can see that rubbers don't expand the same way. They all expand based on the capacity that the manufacturer put in them. Now let's relate this to we, as humans and as God's people. 

God created you. He knows your strength and your weaknesses. He knows what you are good at and what you are not good at. God knows everyone's capacity that's why we don't live purpose the same way. Many of us, we want to walk our purpose faithfully but we don't understand that God has to work in you before he use you. He working in you will cause him to stretch you beyond your normal self. This is the point where people complain and back down. When God place conditions in your life, it is to stretch you and stretch your faith in him. Let's look at this scripture;

Matt 12:13 “Then he said to the man, stretch forth your hands. And he stretched it forth and it was restored whole, like as the other”

This is a withered man here. Jesus said to him “stretch forth your hands” and he did. This is to show that the enlargement of your capacity is according to the response you give to your Stretch. What God does is that he puts people in your life to teach you how to expand and which area you need to expand on. But it is your responsibility whether to respond or not. Imagine if the withered man didn't respond to Jesus word. He wouldn't have gotten his healing. Ask yourself this question; how do I respond to God's expansion? No man can become successful if they don't take the initiative and the bold step to get out of their comfort zone and start to walk their path even if it's not comfortable. 

Another point is that some people don't understand what stretching means. Stretching doesn't means leaving a place to go to another place. Stretching is expanding from where you are. You can stretch yourself in the wrong direction. I've come to realize that most people think stretching yourself is you doing alot of things daily. eg having a whole lot of task for each day. No! That's not stretching. There's a particular direction God wants you to stretch yourself. He wants you to start from where you are and expand your capacity in him. Your own Stretching might be taking up a leadership class, praying 2hrs daily, fasting or even waiting on him. Every of your stretching must be in the path of your purpose. You will get stucked and frustrated when you try to do things outside God plans for you. 

Today starts a new week. I want you to sit and think about those instructions God has given you. Those things he has said to you that you should do. I want you to start picking up those instructions and start working towards it. God will Never Stretch you beyond your capacity. So when he gives you instructions that it looks like can you do this? Yes you can! If you can't he won't tell you to do so! When he tells you to do something, he won't leave you alone to do it alone. He will walk with you and strengthen you. So don't be afraid. Don't think of can I do this? Just put your faith in God and start the work. He won't leave you neither will he forsake you. His strength is made perfect in your weakness. 

I want you to take this Prayers; 

1) Lord, help  me to obey your instructions

2) strengthen me Lord. Help me to build up enough capacity for you. 

In Jesus name we've prayed. Amen!

God bless you!