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It's Bigger Than You Think: Five Day Devotional

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Here are a few additional resources to guide your quiet time this week:


Day 1: God's Infinite Power

Based on the Message: "It's Bigger Thank You Think" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.


"Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you."-  Jeremiah 32:17

Devotional: Too often, we approach God with small prayers, limited dreams, and cautious expectations. Life’s disappointments, delays, and detours can shrink our faith and lower our hopes. But Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3 is a bold reminder that we serve a God who is not limited by our understanding, capacity, or imagination. When Paul says God can do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think,” he is not using exaggeration, he’s describing divine reality. God's power surpasses our biggest requests, wildest dreams, and most detailed plans. And what’s more stunning is that this power is already at work in us through the Holy Spirit. This means that the limitation is never on God’s end; it’s often in our vision, trust, and willingness to believe for more. We may hesitate to ask because we’re afraid of disappointment or feel unworthy. We may scale down our prayers to match our circumstances rather than God's character. But Ephesians 3 invites us to expand our vision, deepen our faith, and pray with boldness, not based on who we are, but on who God is.


Quote: "Faith is holding title of God’s promises, in full expectation that He can and will deliver what He said." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: Are you praying safe, small prayers instead of bold, faith-filled ones? Are you trusting more in your limitations than in God’s limitless power?


Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your limitless power. Help me to dream bigger, pray bolder, and trust deeper. Remind me that nothing is too hard for You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.



Day 2: Faith as Substance

Based on the Message: "It's Bigger Thank You Think" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.


"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." - Hebrews 11:1

Devotional: Faith is not wishful thinking or vague optimism, it is substance and evidence. According to Hebrews 11:1, faith gives tangible reality to what we hope for. It’s like holding a title deed to a property you haven’t moved into yet. You may not see the building or stand on the land, but that legal document says: It’s already yours. Faith operates the same way in the spiritual realm. When God makes a promise, it becomes our inheritance. Faith is the spiritual title that confirms what God has already declared, even before we see it with our eyes. It’s how we take possession of His promises, not by sight, but by trust. Hebrews 11 is filled with stories of people who lived this way: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah. They acted on God’s word before the fulfillment came. Their faith wasn’t passive, it moved them to obedience, even when logic said otherwise. You might be holding onto a promise today: healing, provision, restoration, a calling, a breakthrough. If so, ask yourself: Am I treating God’s promise to me like a spiritual title deed? Do my words and actions reflect confidence in what He’s said? What step of obedience is He asking of me right now? Faith doesn't mean denying reality; it means acknowledging a higher reality: God's truth, which overrides what we see or feel. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that without faith, it’s impossible to please God. Why? Because faith proves we trust who He is, even when we can’t trace what He’s doing. So today, stand firm in your faith. Let God’s promises settle in your spirit like property already owned, even if not yet occupied. His word is unshakable. His track record is flawless. He cannot lie or fail.


Quote: "When God delivers a title, it’s free from blemishes, liens and defects. If He says something belongs to you, it belongs to you!" - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: Am I treating God’s word like a spiritual title deed? Do my words and actions reflect confidence in His ability to accomplish what He’s said? What step of obedience is He asking of me right now?


Prayer: Lord, help me trust Your promises even when I can’t see the outcome. Strengthen my faith to stand on Your word as truth. I believe You are faithful to fulfill all You’ve spoken. In Jesus’ name, Amen.


Day 3: The Super in the Natural

Based on the Message: "It's Bigger Than You Think" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us." - Ephesians 3:20

Devotional: God doesn't just work around us, He works in us. This profound truth changes everything about how we view our challenges and opportunities. When we face situations that seem impossible, we often pray for God to intervene externally. We want Him to change our circumstances, move other people, or create miraculous solutions that bypass our involvement. While God certainly can and sometimes does work this way, His preferred method is much more intimate and transformative. God places His supernatural power inside ordinary people like you and me. He doesn't just put the "super" ON the natural; He puts the "super" IN the natural. You are the vessel through which God's extraordinary power flows into ordinary situations. This means that the solution to many of your challenges isn't coming from outside; it's already within you through God's indwelling Spirit. The wisdom, courage, creativity, and strength you need are available to you right now because God is working in you. Today, instead of just asking God to change your circumstances, ask Him to change you from within. Invite His supernatural power to flow through your natural abilities. Remember that you carry the presence of the Almighty God, and He has chosen to express His power through yielded vessels like you.


Quote: "God’s not just working around me, He is working in me." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: How would your approach to current challenges change if you truly believed God's supernatural power was already working within you rather than just around you?


Prayer: Lord, thank You for choosing to work not just around me but in me. Help me to be more conscious of Your indwelling presence and power. Transform me from within so that Your supernatural ability can flow through my natural life. Use me as a vessel through which Your extraordinary power touches ordinary situations. In Jesus' name, amen.


Day 4: Beyond Sunday Worship

Based on the Message: "It's Bigger Than You Think" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.


"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:16

Devotional: God's vision for His church extends far beyond Sunday gatherings. He's calling us to establish His kingdom in every sphere of influence, business, education, government, arts, and more. We're meant to be a transformative presence wherever we go. The early church didn't just gather for worship; they influenced entire cities and regions. They were known as people who "turned the world upside down" (Acts 17:6). This same calling rests on us today. We're meant to be the head and not the tail, leaders rather than followers, influencers rather than the influenced. God is raising up believers who will create spaces for others to thrive, entrepreneurs who build businesses with kingdom values, educators who shape the next generation, artists who reflect God's creativity, and leaders who govern with righteousness. When we embrace this expanded vision, we stop seeing ourselves as merely church attendees and start recognizing ourselves as kingdom ambassadors. Our workplaces become mission fields. Our businesses become ministry platforms. Our neighborhoods become transformation opportunities. Today, consider how God might be calling you to extend His kingdom influence beyond the church walls. Your divine purpose is bigger than you've imagined!


Quote: "God is not just giving us possession of this property so we can have Sunday worship services. We need businesses. We need commerce. We need to become a city within the city." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: In what specific sphere of influence (business, education, arts, government, etc.) might God be calling you to establish His kingdom values and principles?


Prayer: Father, expand my vision of what Your church can be. Help me see beyond Sunday gatherings to the influence You want Your people to have in every area of society. Show me specifically how I can represent Your kingdom in my sphere of influence. Give me courage to step out in faith and wisdom to know how to proceed. In Jesus' name, amen.


Day 5: Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Based on the Message: "It's Bigger Than You Think" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.


"For we walk by faith, not by sight." - 2 Corinthians 5:7

Devotional: The distinguishing mark of spiritual maturity is the ability to walk by faith rather than by sight. This doesn't mean we ignore reality; it means we recognize a higher reality that transcends what our physical senses can perceive. Walking by faith means making decisions based on God's promises rather than present circumstances. It means speaking words that align with His truth rather than our temporary struggles. It means taking action that demonstrates confidence in His character even when everything around us suggests otherwise. This kind of faith isn't blind optimism, it's rooted in the unchanging nature of God. When we know who God is, sovereign, faithful, loving, and true, we can trust what He says even when we can't trace what He's doing. Many believers remain spiritually immature because they refuse to step beyond what they can see, touch, or understand. They want guarantees before obedience. But God calls us to a different path; the path of faith that pleases Him and releases His power in our lives. Today, identify an area where you've been walking by sight rather than faith. Perhaps it's a decision you're postponing, a step of obedience you're avoiding, or a promise you're struggling to believe. Choose to align your perspective with God's Word rather than your circumstances.


Quote: "If you want to grow up in Christ, you got to learn how to walk by faith and not by sight. This is the heritage of the servants of God. If God said it, then believe it." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: What specific step of faith is God asking you to take right now that requires you to trust His Word more than what you can see with your physical eyes?


Prayer: Lord, strengthen my faith today. Help me to walk not by what I see but by what You have said. When circumstances contradict Your promises, give me courage to stand on Your Word. Mature me spiritually so that faith becomes my default response rather than fear or doubt. Thank You for being trustworthy in all things. In Jesus' name, amen.

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