Over and Above: Five Day Devotional

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

• Watch the replay of "Over and Above" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

• Use this small group discussion guide with family, friends, and co-workers.

• Join us for our 6 AM Prayer Call, Monday through Friday (EST)

Day 1: Devoted to the House of God

Based on the Message: “Over and Above” by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

“Moreover, in my delight in the house of my God, the treasure I have of gold and silver I give to the house of my God, over and above all that I have already provided for the holy temple.” - 1 Chronicles 29:3

Devotional: David's declaration in 1 Chronicles 29:3 reveals a heart completely surrendered to God's purposes. He didn't just fulfill his obligation; he went above and beyond what was already provided. His devotion to God's house flowed from his devotion to God Himself.

This level of devotion challenges our modern mindset. We live in a culture that measures everything by minimum requirements and maximum convenience. But David operated differently. He understood that God's house wasn't just another building project; it was the place where God's presence would dwell among His people. When God designates a place for His glory, our response should match the magnitude of what He's doing.

Your devotion to God's house reflects your devotion to God. Where your treasure is, there your heart is also. When you invest in what God is building, you're not just supporting ministry; you're partnering with Yahweh for kingdom purposes. The question isn't whether you can afford to give generously; it's whether you can afford not to when God is moving.

Devotion moves beyond compliance to alliance. It's not about checking boxes or paying spiritual tolls. It's about saying, 'Lord, if You can use anything, use me. My resources belong to You.' That's the heart posture that releases breakthrough in your life and in God's house.

Quote: "God cares about His house, and so should we. In the scripture, He told Solomon, 'I have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice.' God is serious about the places where He sets up and dwells." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: What does my current level of devotion to God's house reveal about the condition of my heart toward God Himself?

Prayer: Father, I want to have David's heart, a heart that's devoted to You and to Your house. Forgive me for the times I've treated giving as a tax rather than worship. Stir my heart with fresh passion for what You're building. Help me move beyond compliance to a true partnership with You. Give me the courage to trust You with my resources, knowing that You always provide for those who prioritize Your kingdom. Let my devotion to Your house reflect my love for You. In Jesus' name, amen.

Day 2: Breaking the Spirit of Poverty

Based on the Message: “Over and Above” by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins? Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways! - Haggai 1: 4-5

Devotional: The Book of Haggai confronts a poverty mentality masquerading as wisdom. The people had rationalized that it wasn't the right time to finish God's house. Meanwhile, they focused on their own comfort, living in paneled homes while God's temple lay in ruins. Their economy was struggling, but the root issue wasn't external—it was internal.

A poverty mindset can exist at any income level. You can be a high earner and still operate with poverty thinking, always focused on what you don't have rather than what God has already provided. Breaking the spirit of poverty requires more than a better job or a raise. It requires a shift in how you view God's provision and your role as a steward.

God challenges us to put first things first. When we prioritize His house and His kingdom, He promises to provide for everything we need. But if we're always putting our comfort ahead of our covenant commitment, we'll stay stuck in the same financial patterns. The pathway to breakthrough isn't found in holding tighter to what we have; it's found in trusting God enough to release what He's asking for.

Consider your ways. Are you living in your paneled house while God's work remains unfinished? The spirit of poverty keeps you focused on scarcity instead of the abundance that flows when you align with God's purposes.

Quote: "God wants to break the spirit of poverty off of this house. Breaking the spirit of poverty off of this house also means that He wants to break the spirit of poverty off of your individual house. In order for us to break the spirit of poverty, there are certain principles that we have to embrace regardless of our circumstance or our situation." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: What areas of my life reveal that I've been choosing comfort over my covenant commitment to God?

Prayer: Lord, break the spirit of poverty off my life. Forgive me for the times I've prioritized my comfort over Your kingdom purposes. Help me see that true provision flows when I align my priorities with Yours. Give me the faith to put first things first, trusting that You will meet every need as I seek Your kingdom and Your righteousness. Renew my mind so that I think in terms of abundance rather than scarcity. I surrender my finances to You and choose to walk in the blessing of obedience. In Jesus' name, amen.

Day 3: Finishing What God Started

Based on the Message: “Over and Above” by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord and the king's house, and Solomon successfully accomplished all that came into his heart to make in the house of the Lord and in his own house." - 2 Chronicles 7:11

Devotional: Solomon's legacy wasn't just that he started well; he finished what God placed in his heart. In a culture of incomplete projects and abandoned dreams, finishing is a radical act of faith. Solomon successfully accomplished everything God commissioned him to do, both for God's house and his own household.

Many believers start strong but never finish. They begin with enthusiasm but allow obstacles, opposition, or weariness to derail what God initiated. A poverty mindset settles for partial obedience, convincing you that doing something is enough. But God calls us to complete what He starts in us.

Finishing requires perseverance when the work gets hard, when critics mock your progress, and when you can't see the end result. It means refusing to come down off the wall when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem try to distract you. The enemy doesn't want you to finish because he knows that completion releases the fullness of God's blessing.

What has God started in your life that remains unfinished? What project, calling, or commitment have you abandoned halfway through? Perhaps God is calling you back to finish what you started. He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it, but you must cooperate with His process. Don't let a poverty mentality rob you of the breakthrough that comes when you cross the finish line.

Quote: "Solomon successfully accomplished all that came to his heart. When you're breaking the spirit of poverty, you got to learn how to pursue all of what God said, not just a portion. With a poverty mindset, you do a little bit, then allow external factors to hinder your assignment. We need to stay on the wall and finish the job." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: What unfinished assignment has God been prompting me to complete, and what has kept me from following through?

Prayer: Father, give me the strength and perseverance to finish what You've started in my life. Forgive me for the times I've settled for partial obedience or allowed obstacles to stop my progress. Help me push through weariness, opposition, and doubt. I declare that I will successfully accomplish all that You've placed in my heart. Give me the Solomon anointing, the grace to complete both what You've called me to do in Your house and in my own household. I will not quit. I will not come down off the wall. I will finish strong. In Jesus' name, amen.

Day 4: From Compliance to Alliance

Based on the Message: “Over and Above” by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." - 2 Chronicles 7:14

Devotional: God calls us beyond mere compliance with spiritual requirements. There are three levels of engagement with God's kingdom work: compliance, reliance, and alliance. Compliance is doing the minimum, checking the box, and paying the spiritual toll. It's giving something without heart engagement. Many believers never move past this level.

Reliance is deeper. It's trusting God as your Provider, giving even when it doesn't make sense because you know He will meet your needs. You've learned that if it can't meet the need, it might be a seed. This level requires faith that God's math is different than our math.

But an alliance is a partnership with God for shared benefit. When you're in alliance with God, you're not just complying or even relying; you're actively partnering with Him to accomplish His purposes. You give because you understand that generosity breaks strongholds; that the man who is generous will be watered and those who give to the poor lend to the Lord.

Alliance is the realm where we no longer track percentages but track obedience. When God prompts you to give, you respond immediately. You're not limited by your budget or your spreadsheet because you trust that God will provide as you obey. This is the level where breakthrough happens; where the spirit of poverty is shattered, and God's abundant provision flows.

Quote: ""We want to move from compliance to reliance to alliance. Alliance means partnership with God for shared benefit. It's principles over percentages. True giving is giving to the point where you've forgotten what you even gave."- Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: Am I operating at the level of compliance, reliance, or alliance in my relationship with God, and what would it take to move to the next level?

Prayer: Lord, I don't want to settle for compliance or even reliance alone; I want to walk in full alliance with You. Teach me what it means to be Your partner in kingdom work. Help me move beyond checking boxes to tracking obedience. Give me the courage to respond immediately when You prompt me to give, trusting that You will always provide. Break every limitation in my thinking that keeps me from experiencing the fullness of partnership with You. I want to be generous like You are generous. In Jesus' name, amen.

Day 5: The Power of Over and Above

Based on the Message: “Over and Above” by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

“Moreover, in my delight in the house of my God, the treasure I have of gold and silver I give to the house of my God, over and above all that I have already provided for the holy temple.” - 1 Chronicles 29:3

Devotional: David's over-and-above giving reveals the heart of a true worshiper. He had already given generously from the royal treasury, but went further by giving from his personal wealth. This wasn't about obligation or duty. It was devotion. David understood that when it comes to God, there's always room to give more, trust more, and surrender more.

The over-and-above principle challenges our tendency to put limits on God. We set a percentage, establish a pattern, and then stop thinking, praying, or listening for what more God might be asking. But God cannot be boxed by percentages or previous commitments. He's always calling us higher, deeper, and further into generosity.

Over-and-above giving requires humility. Pride says, 'I've already done my part.' Humility says, 'Lord, what more can I do?' Pride keeps track of past contributions. Humility asks, 'What is God placing on my heart right now?' This kind of giving doesn't flow from compulsion; it flows from a heart that's fully devoted to God and His purposes.

When you embrace over-and-above giving, you break free from the poverty mentality that says, 'I've done enough.' You step into the abundance mentality that says, 'Lord, I trust You enough to go beyond what makes sense.' This is where miracles happen. This is where provision flows. This is where God's favor rests.

Quote: "David didn't just give a tithe. David didn't just give an offering. David gave over and above what he already gave. Are you limiting what you give now based on the fact of what you already gave? God cannot be boxed by percentages." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: What would it look like for me to give over and above in my current season, and what is holding me back from taking that step?

Father, give me a heart like David's; a heart that's devoted enough to give over and above. Forgive me for the times I've limited my giving based on past obedience instead of present prompting. Help me break free from tracking percentages and start tracking Your voice. I want to be so surrendered to You that when You ask for more, I respond with joy instead of hesitation. Stir my heart with fresh devotion to You and Your house. I trust You to provide as I step out in over-and-above obedience. Let my generosity reflect my love for You. In Jesus' name, amen.