Get your hopes up.

"When all the jars were full, she said to her son, 'Bring me another one.' But he replied, 'There is not a jar left.' Then the oil stopped flowing."

- 2 Kings 4:6 (New International Version)

That part about "then the oil stopped flowing" hit different the other day while reading this story. As soon as the jars were maxed out it stopped. That means that oil would have still been flowing TUHDAY if there had been enough jars for it. God got oil for days! And what gets me is THEY were in control of how many jars they set out. Not God. Not the prophet. God let them choose. If this isn't a cautionary tale about setting high expectations, I don't know what is.

Don't be afraid to set a big goal .

Be honest ,  have you been setting a few small goals while secretly wishing for more? Let me help you out real quick: that's not how it works. God can only fill the cups YOU set out. So, set out the big ones! Set out what you really want!

I get it though. Many of us have been disappointed more than once. But ask yourself, are you willing to live the rest of your life in fear of disappointment? Are you willing to limit yourself, your dreams, & your potential just to avoid the pain of disappointment? (a pain that God can heal btw) Or are you willing to push past the fear to get what you know belongs to you?

I've been watching The Last Dance story about Michael Jordan and the 90's Chicago Bulls and it's been firing me up because even the great MJ himself suffered defeat after defeat before finally tasting victory. And after that it was like he had forever broken through the ceiling that had been holding him back. Some of us are only one breakthrough away from tapping into the 6 championships God has for us! But we'll never get there by not putting our hopes out there on the line and risking defeat.

And that's what it all boils down to isn't it? Risk. Next week I'm going to talk more about "risk" in God, but for now I'm just trying to remind you that the greater risks you take, the greater your potential reward. And, even if you lose a few before finally winning (because you gon' win eventually!), the sheer satisfaction of knowing you gave it your all will help soften the blow. And personally, I'd much rather feel the pain of disappointment than the pain of regret any day. What about you?

Still Hungry? Eat more //

• Mark 11:22-24  → When we finally start believing what Jesus said in this scripture (like really believing it?), we gon' be a problem. Have faith in God!

• Psalm 23:3  → God can heal the pain of past hurts. If you're afraid to believe BIG because of past disappointments, start affirming daily that "God restores my soul." His word is medicine that can heal any pain if we take it.

• 2 Corinthians 2:14  → Loss is not the end. Until you've achieved victory, it's not over because that's how God puts on for His people.