Enlarge the Place of Your Tent

There are possibilities for growth for each one of us, where we are now within our own domain. Let that thought settle – sometimes God asks us to stretch ourselves, to see that he has more available for us. Even where we are right now, in our situation which may not be ideal, and in our circumstances which often prove difficult. It may require a shift and a change in our perspective!

Possibilities to enlarge!

“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.” Isaiah 54:2

This verse is part of a prophecy in the book of Isaiah regarding the future glory of Zion, of Israel. But the apostle Paul takes these verses and also applies them to the ‘covenant of promise’ – we are children of the promise! (Galatians 4:26-28) When we accept Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we are born again into freedom and liberty, set free from fear and the power of death over our lives. The promises of God to Israel become part of our inheritance in Christ Jesus.

When we lift our eyes to God and focus on His power and majesty, His great love towards us in sending His only Son, Jesus, to reconcile us to Himself, our perspective changes. In knowing how much we are loved by God, how precious we are to Him, brings fresh vision and expectancy – there is nothing too difficult for God.

We can pray, to first see where the opportunity is, and then for the motivation to do something about it. Our faith is activated, only when we act! It may take courage, to start to step out and believe in God’s enabling grace towards us.

A time to enlarge!

Be gracious to yourself, and, of course, to others. We can try new things, we can take a step forward, with the desire for more than we have now, and expand our role and our sphere of influence. We can try and try again…

Pull up your tent peg, out of the ground, where it has been so securely embedded for so long. Now there may be a moment, when you’ve pulled that peg up, when there is a wobble – your tent is now not so secure. Don’t be tempted to just ram the peg back in the ground, in exactly the same place – and give up. Stretch yourself, reach out, extend, and place your peg in fresh ground!

You will never know what the possibilities are unless you take the first step and try something different.

Persevere, don’t give up!

Those of us who have ever been camping, or put a tent up, know that sometimes you need to try more than one place for your peg. You start to push it in the ground and then you encounter a rock and it won’t go in any further or you are pushing it into loose soil and it is not secure. Then you need to move slightly and try again, a different position or a different angle.

When we are led and guided by God, we will not find confusion and stress, but a place of peace and clarity. That does not mean that everything is easy, or perfect, or successful – it may require digging deep into reserves of endurance, and patience, where we rely on God’s enabling grace to strengthen and provide.

Reflect

Is this a time to reflect, to seek God for fresh opportunities?Then let the seed of this word settle in your heart and begin to sow expectancy within you. Do not be held back by fear of failure but be willing to step out in faith, to learn, to grow and enjoy the experience!