I once heard a story about a fisherman who carried a measuring rule with him to measure his catch. If it met the size requirement, it went into his basket; if not, it was released back into the sea. When asked why, he replied, “The ones I threw back are longer than my frying pan.” What a valuable lesson about the capacity of our minds!
Friend, what can your mind accommodate? Often, our reality is shaped by the state of our minds (Ephesians 3:20). Your mind is the limit of your potential. This is why God often works on our minds before transforming our lives. A limited mind leads to limited results. Your life can achieve what your mind can conceive (Genesis 11:6).
The primary role of God’s word in our lives is to renew our thinking (Romans 12:1-2). It’s about allowing God’s word to reshape our thoughts and perspectives. Like our opening story, why not increase the size of your frying pan instead of reducing your catch? Why not expand your vision (Habakkuk 2:1-4)?
God doesn’t put new wine into old wineskins (Mark 2:22). He won’t entrust a great vision to a limited mind. He’ll wait for us to grow into the person who can handle what He’s bringing. The information, relationships, and environments we’re exposed to shape our minds. Neglecting these factors can limit our growth (Luke 2:46-52).
Information shapes our inner being (Mark 4:24). It is inside-formation. Relationships are ships taking us somewhere. If you enter the wrong ship, you won’t get into the right destination. Let the right relationships propel you into your destiny. Your location determines what you see and how you see (Genesis 15:5).
Most times, the information, relationships, and locations that change us will first challenge us (Isaiah 54:1-3). Embrace the challenge and the stretch. We’ll encounter thoughts and experiences that disrupt our thinking and make us uncomfortable. It’s such stretches that will take us to our next level of greatness (1 Timothy 4:15).
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria