EXPAND

Expand

Pastor Calvin Cook

October 22, 2025

Scripture: “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.” — Isaiah 54:2 (NIV)

In the early morning hours of October 18, 2025 – I was praying through the thoughts I recently shared on the more that God wants to do my life. I am thriving hard to keep in tune and in step with God’s will. I am not good when I feel as if things have flat lined or the term I commonly use floundering. I was praying through some personal struggles, relationships, being a Kingdome builder, seeking after God’s will, growing the church, growing the business, avoiding pit falls, seeking forgiveness for past mistakes, and more.

That is when this scripture from Isaiah 54:2 came from a simple prayer guide I use. IT was if it was on one of those flashing neon screens and the image of the words kept flashing as if to say – give this attention.

There comes a time when God speaks and the words both excite but brings an unsettled feeling in the heart — The word “Expand” shook me. I questioned and lamented – I am already doing as much as I physically can – “but is what you are doing for God’s glory or your own purpose ?”

I believe in this case when God says “Expand” the call is more of God, expand the receiving part of your life so that you can receive what God wants to do and not what – you want. It’s a call to believe that what He has done is only the beginning. It’s an invitation to prepare for increase even before it arrives. And over and over again there are examples of increase – that will happen – again.

When Isaiah spoke these words, the people of Israel were in recovery mode. They were not in a season of abundance or visible success. Yet God called them to enlarge the place of their tent — to make room for what they could not yet see.

Expansion begins not with possession, but with preparation. For us the question would be what are we preparing to receive? A bigger house, a better job, more popularity, wealth, or that which God has been trying to give us since the beginning of time, an un-filtered, un-adultered relationship with God – and all of God, not just the parts we choose to receive or take advantage of.

You may feel like you don’t have enough strength, resources, or time to stretch further. But God doesn’t ask you to expand from your own supply; He invites you to expand from His. From that which God wants to do in your life. When you lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes, you are declaring by faith: “I believe God has more.”

I certainly believe God does have more – for me, for you, for your marriage, for your family, for the communities we live in, for the church, for everything. And I want to live into that more.

Expansion often starts in the unseen — in the heart that dares to dream again, in the faith that refuses to settle, in the courage it will take to say no to the bright and shiny distractions of the world and lean in more and more into “the Apostles teaching, the breaking of bread, fellowship, and prayer.” (Acts 2:42) In an obedience that builds even when it feels small. God’s promise to you is that what you do by being faithful, He will fill in His time.

So go ahead — expand your prayers, your vision, your love, your capacity to believe. Don’t hold back. The God who brought you this far is not finished. I am looking forward to that day, which is already here, we just have to keep our part of the covenant.

My Prayer: Lord, teach me to make room for Your promises. Help me to stretch beyond what feels comfortable and to trust You in the unseen. Strengthen my faith as I prepare for the increase You have planned. I choose to believe that You are expanding my life, my marriage, my ministry, and my influence for Your glory. Amen.