Living Beyond What We Can Imagine

There's something profoundly transformative about stepping out in faith when everything in us wants to play it safe. Twenty-five years ago, a small group of people gathered in a barn for a Bible study, believing God had more in store than what they could see. Today, their faith has multiplied into a thriving community that continues to reach lives, baptize believers, and serve their community in remarkable ways.

This journey of faith isn't just about looking back—it's about leaning forward into what God wants to do next.

The Foundation of Beyond

The apostle Paul, writing from a prison cell, penned one of the most hope-filled declarations in Scripture: God "is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that works within us" (Ephesians 3:20).

Think about that for a moment. Paul wasn't writing from a position of comfort or success by worldly standards. He was imprisoned, yet he understood something profound about God's power. Why? Because he had experienced it firsthand.

Paul's life had been radically transformed. Once a persecutor of Christians, he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus and everything changed. He went from throwing believers in prison to proclaiming the very gospel he once tried to destroy. If anyone understood "beyond," it was Paul.

Three Keys to Experiencing Beyond

Surrender

The journey to experiencing God's "beyond" in our lives begins with complete surrender. This means giving God every area of our lives—our time, talents, families, homes, careers, and futures. It's the honest prayer: "God, whatever you want, it's yours."

For many of us, we're not there yet. We hold back certain areas, keeping them under our control. But would we be willing to make it our prayer that God gets us to a place of full surrender? That's where transformation begins.

Prayer

Prayer is where we draw close to God and align our hearts with His will. It's not about convincing God to do what we want; it's about discovering what He wants and committing to it.

When we're fully surrendered, our prayers change. They become: "God, if you want me to share my faith, I'll do it. If you want me to change jobs, I'll change. If you want me to serve in a new way, I'm ready."

Obedience

Surrender and prayer must lead to action. Obedience is actually doing what God calls us to do. When we surrender fully, pray consistently, and obey faithfully, we position ourselves to experience God doing the impossible in and through our lives.

God's Power Beyond Our Imagination

Throughout Scripture, we see God doing the impossible. Abraham and Sarah had a child in their old age when an angel asked, "Is anything too difficult for the Lord?" The Israelites walked through the Red Sea on dry ground when they were trapped with no way out. Peter was freed from prison by an angel while believers prayed.

There are no limits to God's power.

Yet sometimes we pray for God to change our situations, and they don't change. This is one of the most challenging realities of faith. Sometimes God changes our circumstances. Sometimes He uses our circumstances to change us or to impact others in ways we never imagined.

The key is not limiting God with small prayers. We serve a big God who deserves big prayers that reflect His character and power.

Working In Us and Through Us

God doesn't just work around us—He works in us and through us. Often we pray, "God, change my situation," when we should also be praying, "God, change me."

These prayers sound different: "God, soften my heart. Give me a forgiving spirit. Help me obey even when it's costly or frightening. Strengthen me through this trial."

God uses young people and old people, the willing and the reluctant. He doesn't always move us from point A to point B in one giant leap. Instead, He often works through small character changes, little answered prayers, and incremental steps of faith that eventually get us to places we never imagined.

Don't miss the little ways God is working in your life right now.

Glory to God Alone

Everything we do should point people to Jesus, not to ourselves. Our culture celebrates self-promotion and personal achievement. The kingdom of God operates differently. We don't say, "Look at me." We say, "Look at Jesus."

When lives are transformed, when people are baptized, when communities are served—Jesus gets all the glory. Why? Because only He has the power to truly change a human heart.

This glory extends through generations. The decisions we make today about surrender, prayer, and obedience will create legacies that outlive us. The faith we live now will impact people we'll never meet.

Responding to Opportunity

Opportunities are all around us. Communities are growing. New families are moving in. People are searching for meaning, purpose, and hope. The question isn't whether opportunities exist—it's whether we'll respond with faith.

God isn't asking for our strength; He has all the power. He's inviting our surrender. He's not needing our abilities; He's calling us to prayer. He's not demanding perfection; He's providing opportunities for obedience.

The Heart of Generosity

Part of living surrendered lives involves how we handle finances and possessions. Jesus talked about money frequently because our relationship with material things reveals our hearts.

For some, past experiences with churches that mishandled finances create legitimate hesitation. For others, financial stress makes giving seem impossible. And for some, money and possessions have become sources of security and satisfaction that compete with God.

True generosity flows from hearts that trust God completely. It's not about what anyone wants from us—it's about what God wants for us. When we put Him first financially, we're declaring that He is our ultimate source and security.

Moving Forward in Faith

The invitation is simple but profound: Would you lean in? Would you surrender every area of your life? Would you pray and ask God what He wants to do in and through you? Would you commit to obeying whatever He reveals?

God is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. The question is: Will we position ourselves to experience it?

The "beyond" isn't just about buildings, budgets, or programs. It's about transformed lives, changed hearts, and people coming to know Jesus. It's about leaving legacies that will impact generations.

What would happen if we truly believed God could do the impossible? What if we stopped praying small prayers and started trusting our big God? What if we surrendered completely, prayed boldly, and obeyed faithfully?

The answer is already yes. The only question is: What will we do with it?