God never lacks any resource, and He knows how to give good gifts to His children. Yet many Christians settle for far less than what’s available to them in Christ. Too many believers are choosing to find happiness in the mundane and ordinary when God wants to do so much more! This practical, step-by-step plan helps you explore all that God wants to do in your life… Are you ready?
Answers with Bayless Conley
Day 1
Scriptures: 2 Chronicles 25:9, Matthew 7:11
God Wants to Do so Much More for You
I would like to ask you to do something right now. Think of an area of need in your life, or maybe it’s just an area of desire. Now, imagine the best possible outcome for that situation. Consider the highest and fullest way in which that prayer could be answered. Think about it for a minute—whatever it is—and identify the greatest and best that you can dream to see happen.
All right. Whatever you were just pondering, I want to tell you: you are thinking too small. God is able to do so much more than you just envisioned!
While I was doing some studying and reading, I was forcefully struck by the phrase “much more” as it pertains to the things God declares He can do and will do in your life. In this reading plan, I want to help you discover this amazing God of much more.
In the following days, as we dig deeper into God’s promises for your life, it is my prayer that you realize how precious you are to Him—and how He has so much more to offer you!
Day 2
Scripture: 2 Samuel 12:1-10
Aim for Success without Compromise
I had a gentleman in church, a faithful member, come to me one day and say, “Pastor, I got a job.” I knew he had been looking for a job. He was very skilled in the area of sales and landed a great job with a great paycheck. And there was also a lot of room to make a lot more money through his sales. He would get a commission on top of a very fat salary. Then, he said to me, “But, Pastor, I just quit.”
I was surprised to hear this. We had been talking and praying together, but so soon after he got the job, he quit. He went on to say:
“After I took the job, they told me how to make the presentation. And I went to the boss of the company, and I said, ‘We are misrepresenting this product. You are having me say some things about it to the customers that aren’t true.’
“And the boss said, ‘You got a problem with that?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, actually, I do because it’s making me a liar. I know these things aren’t true, and you know these things aren’t true. Yeah, you are going to sell a lot of product if you represent it that way, but it’s wrong.’”
The boss then said to him, “If you want to work here, this is the way we do it. Otherwise, there’s the door.” So he took the door. He told me, “Pastor, I quit. I wasn’t going to violate my conscience.”
He put his trust in the God of much more. It wasn’t long before he had a better job with better pay where he didn’t have to lie to people.
Friend, whatever we compromise to keep, we will eventually lose.
You do not have to compromise to succeed. God is able to give you much more. Don’t violate your conscience; don’t violate your principles. Don’t be like David in his choices surrounding Bathsheba. There are consequences to that. Instead, look to God. He can give you much more.
Discover More
Write down a decision you need to make in your life, one in which you could rely on God so much more than you are right now. Make it your goal to pray for that situation each day this week. Pray that you surrender it to God and allow Him to be much more in your life.
Day 3
Scriptures: 2 Chronicles 25:9
Understand His Limitlessness
I have a friend who was once very happy pastoring a small church. He had a good life going until his wife was unfaithful—and it was not just a one-time deal. She ended up divorcing him to be with another guy. My friend lost his wife, his church, his home … he lost everything. He was devastated; he was shattered.
But, he put his chin up and decided that he was going to continue to serve God regardless of what happened to him. He affirmed in his heart that God is good and that He is able to bring something beautiful out of the wreckage of our lives. Some years later, this friend of mine married a beautiful woman who loves God with all of her heart and loves my friend to pieces. Today, they are pastoring one of the largest, most influential churches in their city!
Everything that he had has been increased a hundredfold. It’s amazing the influence and the reach that they now have and how incredibly blessed his life is. He and I have talked numerous times, and he says, “Bayless, everything that I lost, God has given it back to me in spades. It’s come back in good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.”
The Lord is able to give you much more.
Maybe you had something and lost it: influence, finances, or a relationship. Take comfort—God knows all about your circumstances. It’s not a coincidence that you are reading this plan. He is able to give you much more than you could ever imagine.
Let us not limit our limitless God.
Discover More
Think of a time in your life when you were struggling. Maybe you lost your job, maybe you were wrestling with your health or a rebellious child, or maybe you simply felt hopeless. Now that you look back, how did God show you He had much more planned for you?
Day 4
Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34
Give It All to God
God knows exactly what you need. He says, “But seek first the kingdom … and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Kingdom first. Spiritual over the material.
I know for some people, they think, “Oh, man, that’s just too simplistic,” and they want to brush it aside as some childish notion. But that’s a great mistake.
Never underestimate the power of obedience to God. When you get your priorities in order, it unlocks and releases amazing blessings.
My wife has one of those newer cars. It doesn’t even have a place to put a key in; it’s just an electronic key. You’re supposed to bring the key with you into the car, depress the brake pedal, push a button, and the ignition will start.
One day, I got in the driver’s seat and tried starting the car. I pushed the button, but it wouldn’t start. I said, “Oh, right, the brakes.” I pressed the brake down first, and then I pushed the ignition button. The engine roared to life. You see, there’s a sequence to it. You have to have the key inside the car somewhere, and you have to press down on the brake and then push the ignition button. When you do, the engine roars to life.
Do you see the point? If you want the engine of God’s miraculous supply to roar to life, get the sequence in order! Seek first the Kingdom.
That’s one of the principles Jesus outlined in Matthew 6:25–34. The second is found in verse 25 of the same chapter. He said, “Do not worry.” In verse 31, again He said, “Do not worry.” In verse 34, He said, “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.”
There was a couple that I read about who had a mutual understanding for how to handle every problem they had. Every time they faced a difficulty, they would sit down at the kitchen table together, grab a little pad of paper, and write down their issue. They would then tear it off of the pad, lay it down, put their hands on it, and in prayer, commit it into God’s hands.
Once they prayed over their issues, they would fold the paper in half and put it in a paper bag labeled: GOD.
The act of putting the paper into the “God bag” symbolized that they had given that problem—and all of the worries associated with it, to God.
He cares for you and there are no problems too difficult for Him to handle. If we want to experience the “much mores” of God, we need to put things in His hands and cast our cares upon Him.
Discover More
Like the couple I told you about, it may be helpful to write down something that’s been bothering you—big or small—and pray over it. Then, give it to God. Leave it in His capable hands and get ready to see Him do much more in your life.
Day 5
Scripture: Matthew 7:7-8
The Key Is to Ask
My son Harrison was just five years old when he said to Janet and me one day, “I want to go to Disneyland.” We said, “Son, right now Disney is not in the budget. If you want to go to Disneyland, you better pray and ask God for tickets.” It was a Wednesday afternoon, and we were headed to church later that evening. So standing in his bedroom he prayed a bold prayer asking Jesus for Disney tickets.
A couple of hours later in the auditorium at church, a woman we knew well was sitting in the front row. She said, “Harrison, come here.” And he ran over and sat next to her. She said, “I have something for you,” then opened up her purse, and pulled out Disney tickets. “Here.”
Excitedly, he ran over to us and said, “Okay, we’re going to Disney!” And I thought, “That was quick!” So he got the chance to go to Disneyland—true story.
Now, fast forward several months later, and Harrison asks to go to Disneyland yet again. “I want to go back to Disneyland,” he said. We replied, “Well, you know what to do.” So he prayed and asked Jesus for Disney tickets. This was again on a church day, so as always, we went as a family to service that night.
As Harrison was running down the hallway to his class, a complete stranger stopped him and asked: “Are you the pastor’s son?” When Harrison said “yes,” the guy reaches into his back pocket and hands him Disney tickets. “Jesus told me to give these to you,” he said.
So my five year old son runs me over to share, “We’re going to Disneyland again!” At the time, I was thinking, “Harrison, I really want a fishing boat. Will you talk to Jesus for me?”
But you know, the fact is, our Father loves us. He is good, and He says in Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Let’s not overcomplicate that. Let’s just take Him at His Word: “Everyone who asks receives” (v. 8).
Discover More
God cares for you more than the birds and the flowers. He loves you immeasurably more than you can comprehend, and He wants to bless you beyond what you’ve ever expected. Your prayers to Him don’t need to be eloquent or lengthy. Pray simply … and wait:
Lord, You love me more than You love the animals and the plants You’ve created, and You care for them. How much more do You care for me? You know my needs, and I ask for Your continued provision in my life. I will be patient. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Day 6
Scriptures: Romans 5:6-10, Romans 5:15-17, Matthew 28:18
Reign in Him
Friend, grace is stronger than sin. Life is stronger than death. God’s plan was never to have you ground into the dust by life and held in a headlock. His plan is for you—through faith in Him—to live a full, blessed, triumphant life!
I talked to a woman recently who had been suffering for many years from clinical depression. The medical community had lovingly tried to help her in every way they could, including offering her medication. She had lost the ability to function as a wife, as a friend, and as a mother. There was this deep, dark depression and mental imbalance that had taken hold of her and robbed years from her life.
But when she got a hold of the Word of God, everything changed.
She doesn’t take any medication whatsoever now, hasn’t for years; and when you talk to her, she grips your hand and looks you right in the eye. There is a grace and a peace on her that can only be described as reigning triumphantly through Christ. Jesus broke her chains, put a scepter in her hand, and said, “You can reign with My delegated authority.” And she’s doing just that. That is God’s plan for you, my friend.
Jesus faced the powers of darkness. He didn’t have to submit to them. He didn’t have to submit to Calvary. He could have called legions of angels to rescue Him. But instead, He suffered to set us free forever from the powers of darkness. And now, we can reign through the grace of Jesus Christ.
Yes, death and sin and the powers of darkness did once reign in our lives—but no more for the child of God. Friend, you serve the risen Christ; you serve the Victor who reigns over all. And He invites you into a life where you can walk and talk with the God of much more.
Discover More
Write down one way God has shown you much more in your life since becoming a believer in Jesus Christ. Then pray:
Father in heaven, You have shown me much more than I deserve. You’ve given me abundant blessings. The greatest of these blessings has been the gift of eternal life through the sacrifice Your Son made on the cross. Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your Son. In Jesus’ name, amen.