Sunday #27: Be Careful What You [Don't] Wish For

They got in their own heads, found a few other heads of miserable company, and allowed their limiting beliefs to steal their future.

In January 2025, my mom and I were chatting about the intentions I had set for the year. I told her the Prayer of Jabez, asking God to enlarge my territory, would be my mantra and North Star.

She smiled, and warned, "Oh, be careful with that one. That's why people get bigger and bigger..." as though being bigger was a bad thing.

There was a split second where her gentle warning triggered my insecurities, my fears, and every other emotion that causes us to freeze instead of follow. But in the next second, I found my faith. And my strength that stood on His promise of proximity.

I left that conversation thinking, I wanna be as big as God wants me to be. I want everything He has for me to steward because I believe He will keep me and equip me for it. And when I forget, I have a tattoo to remind me, that reads: Jehovah Shammah. Or “God is there.” A reminder of His persistent presence. A reminder that whatever is ahead of me, He is already there.

In 1 Chronicles Jabez prays for a life of favor and goodness, opportunity and influence, protection from evil, and God’s power and presence. A bold request, no doubt. I wonder how many of us are praying that boldly. Praying boldly for positions that are appointed by God but have been manipulated by the world to such an extent that we’re afraid to ask for them. It’s as though we’ve psyched ourselves out of asking for and embracing the very things we need to fulfill our role in the kingdom.

A sad but common fate for many believers.I can’t help but think about the generation of Israelites who never entered the land of milk and honey (Canaan). Not because it wasn't theirs to have, and not because that wasn't the plan, but because they psyched themselves out. Fear, insecurity, and resignation kept them from what belonged to them. They got in their own heads, found a few other heads of miserable company, and allowed their limiting beliefs to steal the favor, opportunity, protection, and power in a promise that was less than two weeks away.

11 days.

It was only a 250 mile walk from Egypt to the Promised Land of Canaan. That’s roughly an 11 day walk.

11 days became 40 years because of what they believed about themselves relative to what God had already promised them.

All that stood between them and the promise was them. They weren't ready. Not because the land moved. Not because God changed His mind. Because they weren't ready to believe what God had already said about them.

I wonder how many of us are doing the same thing. How many promises are sitting 11 days away that we've been circling for 40 years? How many territories has God already assigned to us that we haven't walked into because someone said ‘be careful with that one,’ and we decided to freeze instead of follow?

I decided I will ask to be expanded, for my territory to be increased. I ask for every single thing God has for me, from Him, in Jesus name.

I trust Jehovah Shammah. He was there before I arrived. He'll be there when it gets bigger. He'll be there when it gets harder.

That's the promise of proximity. And that’s enough to bet the house on.

So pray the prayer. Ask for all of it. Ask to be expanded. And start walking.

I wonder...

What is your 11 day walk that you have turned into 40 years?
What promise have you not yet walked into? What fear, insecurity, or limiting belief has kept you outside of it?
What action would you take tomorrow, if you truly believed that God is already there?

Speaking of walking into what's ahead, afteramen. arrivals, our snail mail club opens for sign up on August 11th. You receive a set of five cards each month, one sensory moment for each of your senses. I can't wait to get these to you.

I love you.

Coi Marie