How to Grow Your Capacity

"Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.” - Isaiah 54:2

You have a dream but do you have the capacity to handle that dream?

The dictionary defines capacity as the amount that something can produce. The ability or power to do, experience, or understand something.

Capacity affects every area of your life from your job, to your relationships, to your goals.

In Matthew 25, Jesus is telling a parable to his disciples about a man who gave talents to his servants. (Side note – I’ve always thought of a talent as a little coin.  A talent though was a measure of weight for money and varied according to country.  However, it would have been a very large sum of money.)

“And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.” – Matthew 25:15

Why were different amounts of talents given to the servants? It says in the scripture, “each according to his own ability.”  Their ability or you could say their capacity determined the amount they each received. 

Let’s look at this practically. Let’s say a person currently has a business and the most employees they have ever managed is two.  What if the next day their business suddenly has 5,000 employees that they are responsible for managing? Do you think things will go well? Most people would probably agree that it would be a disaster, but why? It’s because the person has not grown their capacity to handle that many people.

This is the same reason why one-third of US lottery winners declare bankruptcy within three to five years of winning. They were not equipped to handle that kind of wealth suddenly.

As we grow our capacity, we will be able to handle more that God has called us to. Here are three areas to start growing today!

Stewardship

In the same parable of the talents, the servants who wisely used the talents they were given were put in charge of more because of their faithful stewardship.  

“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” – Matthew 25:21

When we steward, what God has already given us we will see increase in our life.  We should continually be going to the next level with God. What has God already given you that you can grow? It might be a talent you have, your business, or even a relationship. 

God is going to wait for our capacity to grow before He gives us more.

When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. – 2 Kings 4:6 (NIV)

God provided supernaturally for this widow but He also only gave her what she could handle.  The oil flowed for the number of jars she had (her capacity) and when there were no more the oil stopped.

Imagine if the oil had of continued running beyond the number of jars she had.  It would have created a mess running onto the floor.  Her and her sons would have been slipping and sliding all over. God does not give us more than we can handle and this is because of His great kindness towards us.  

 

 

Habits  

 

Your habits are defining your destiny. Are the habits you currently have the habits you need for where you want to go?  

 

You can pray for growth in an area for increased finances, opportunities, etc. but will the habits you currently have help you handle and sustain this type of growth? If not, stop praying and take action.   https://www.youareacreativeforce.com/2019/09/04/quit-playing-small/

 

Consistency will build momentum. It doesn’t have to be something huge. If you only five minutes a day to give towards your goal then do five minutes. Just be consistent and don’t quit.    

 

 

Time

 

Seedtime and harvest is a principle throughout the Bible.

 

For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. – Mark 4:28

 

You might have a word from God about your future but first you are going to have to see the blade before you see the full thing! This is the law of seedtime and harvest. 

 

Growing your capacity just takes time.  It might mean growing new habits or investing in more education. It’s not an overnight process.

 

We never arrive at a point where we are done growing our capacity.  God wants to take us to bigger and bigger things. It’s a journey.  Don’t be so worried about the end destination that you don’t take time to enjoy the trip.