Mensa Otabil - Dream Big
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Welcome to day number five of our fresh start. You know, we’ve been dedicating these 21 days for prayer as we enter into this new year, and we want to have a start with God, with His grace, and with His favor.
So we look at Psalm 81, verse 10: «I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.» God had a problem with Israel, and His problem with Israel was that they were content to experience the deliverance of God. They knew God delivered them from Egypt, and they knew God overcame the armies of Pharaoh, but that was as far as their faith could go. They couldn’t believe God for anything beyond that. So anytime they entered into a crisis, they would complain against God. They needed food, and they would complain; they needed water, and they would complain. They couldn’t believe that the God who delivered them could do other things for them. And that is the subject of today’s meditation. God wants us to dream big, and He wants us to think big, and so He tells Israel, «Open your mouth wide.»
Now, what does it mean when God says, «Open your mouth wide»? Well, we use our mouths for two things primarily: we use our mouths to speak, to let words out, and we also use our mouths to let food in. Part of what we do with our mouths is to give something out and to take something in. So what does it mean when we say «open your mouth wide»? First, it means that you have to be bold in your request to God in your prayer to God. The things you say, the things you declare out of your mouth, must be big. Don’t make small plans when you’re dealing with a big God. Secondly, it also means that you have great expectations that God will feed you with something-that God will bring something great and awesome into your life. So when He says to Israel, «Open your mouth wide,» He says, «Believe Me for great things; believe Me for extraordinary things.»
And really, the most extraordinary thing we can believe God for is not even our needs being met; it is the glory of God filling the earth as the waters cover the sea. It is the kingdom of God coming; it is His will being done. We can trust God that He can do great things in our world and touch people’s lives and save people. So open your mouth wide. And then God says, «If you open your mouth wide, I will fill it.» Isn’t that amazing? He didn’t say, «Open your mouth wide and you fill it by yourself.» He says, «Believe Me, trust Me, have a big plan, but I’m the one who’s going to help you to do it. It’s not going to be limited to yourself.»
If all our plans, all the big things we want to do, depended on us, what a miserable failure we would be! But if it depends on God, then God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think of. So this 2023, we open our mouths wide-not literally by opening your mouth wide-but it means that you’re going to talk to God about great things, and you’re going to ask for His glory to be seen and His power to be revealed. You’re also going to have a great desire for God to do mighty things for you. And He says, «If you do that, I will fill it for you.» We expect great things this year as we gather for the goodness of the Lord.
Let’s pray. Heavenly Father, there is no limit to what You can do. Fill the earth with Your glory and power. In Jesus' name, amen and amen. Go ahead, open your mouth wide, and God is going to fill it for you. And Pastor Mensa Otabil, shalom, peace, and life to you.