Immeasurably More Than Extraordinary

My middle school home economics teacher was a stickler for accuracy. As we learned to cook, and especially to bake, every single ingredient had to be precisely measured with measuring cups or measuring spoons. Flour was spooned into the measuring cup, and a knife was moved over the top to level the dry ingredient perfectly. The same process was applied to all dry ingredients to ensure that each and every measure was just so. Paula Deen and Martha Stuart both subscribe to this technique, and they teach that the proper scientific measurements lend to success in baking. I still use these same techniques, 39 years after I first learned them.


Similarly, we tend to want to know exactly how our performances measure up to our rivals. We size up people and performances based upon manmade standards or measures. We especially use statistics to quantify sports' performances and to assess sales' performances. We ask:

What was your sales quota last month?  Did you beat it?

Where did you rank amongst the other sales reps?

How many rebounds did you have?

What were your R.B.I.'s?

We even try to measure a church's efficacy by how many people are seated in the sanctuary every Sunday.

So when Paul tells us that the Lord is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, and God's discourse in Job 38 focuses on all of His marvelous works that are beyond our full understanding and standards of measurement, how can our minds fully grasp God's majesty, His love, or what He could possibly accomplish in our lives?

Job 11:8-9 tells us that the mysteries of God and His limits are "higher than the heavens" and "deeper than the depths of the grave." "Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea."  I don't know about you, but my mind cannot begin to fathom just how big that is. Full comprehension of God's nature, designs, and character are beyond our human scope; He surpasses all the capacity of our intellect.

God is immeasurably more than extraordinary!  He is able to do immeasurably more!  He spoke this world, its vegetation, its people into existence from nothing. He placed stars in the heavens and called them by name.  He numbers the hairs on my head, and on yours, and He knew each of us while we were being knit together in our mothers' wombs.

I wish an English word existed for the phrase "immeasurably more than extraordinary."  I have searched and searched, and I cannot find any that begins to explain our God's "extraordinariness"... Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain (Psalm 139:6).

Why then do we make an effort?  Because 1 Corinthians 13:9 tells us, "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."

If we patiently seek Him now, if we persevere, we WILL see Him face to face; now we know in part - then one day (after we have passed from this earth) we will know Him fully!!

Meanwhile, the Spirit of God, residing in His children gives us the ability to perceive as much as is necessary (according to the measure that God bestows on each of us individually). We may not be able to measure His love or His plans out in our nice little cups, but He knows just exactly what is perfect and timely for each of us.

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."  Ephesians 3:14-21 NIV

Since God is more exceptional in His character, in His power, in His glory, in His majesty... how can I begin to imagine what to ask of Him, the One who is "immeasurably more than"?

"But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."  Romans 8:25-27

Dear Father, may I continue to pray to You who is not only 100% able, but who is able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine. May I ask You to heal the bodies and spirits of my friends and family, so they may continue to minister powerfully in Your Name. Every time I get a glimpse of and experience your “immeasurably more than”, may I give you honor, praise, and glory forever and ever! May I proclaim You loudly, and may I live each and every day with the knowledge that one day I WILL know you fully and completely! What a promise that is! In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.