Psalm 81:10 says, “Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.” As we enter the new year, ask yourself, “Do I have my mouth open wide for this year?” In other words, what are you expecting? What are you ready to receive from Almighty God?

If you’ve been thinking, “I don’t think I’ll ever get a pay raise with the economy like it is.” “I don’t think I’ll ever get promoted; I’m not that qualified.” “I don’t think I’ll ever get well,” then the problem is that your mouth is barely open. You’re not expecting good breaks. You’re not expecting increase. You’re not expecting God to show up and turn it around, and unfortunately, you won’t be disappointed. Jesus said in scripture, “According to your faith it will be done unto you.” He might as well have said, “If you’ve got a cup, I’ll fill you with a cup level of blessing. If you’ve got a bucket, I’ll fill you with a bucket level of blessing.” But He also says, “If you’ve got a barn, I’ll fill you with an overwhelming load of blessing!” In other words, if you’ll take the limits off of God, if you’ll go out each day expecting far and beyond favor, you won’t be disappointed.

Let me ask you, do you go out each day knowing that favor is already in your future? Or have you gotten stuck in a rut? That’s what happened to the people of Israel. They were headed toward the Promised Land. They had big goals and big dreams, but along the way, they hit some setbacks in their thinking. They got so discouraged they gave up on their dreams and just settled where they were. One day God said to them, “You have dwelt long enough on this mountain.” Today, I believe God is saying to each one of us, “You’ve been where you are long enough. It’s time to move forward.” God is saying, “This is a new day. Get your fire back! Where you are today is not where you’re supposed to stay.”

Today, increase your capacity to receive—increase your faith. How do you increase your faith? Romans 10:17 tells us that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. This means that the more time you spend learning, studying and meditating on the scriptures, the more faith will rise in your heart. As His Word transforms your thinking, you’ll start thinking bigger and believing bigger. You’ll break through barriers that have held you back, and you’ll make room for the new things God has in store for you.

Jesus put it like this, “You can’t put new wine in old wineskins.” He was saying you can’t go to a new level with an old way of thinking. Are you ready for God to do something new? Begin to declare, “This is my year to go to a new level! This is my year to be totally healthy! This is my year to see God move mightily on my behalf!” Take a step of faith and open your mouth wide because He who promised is faithful! He will fill you to overflowing in every area of your life!