Yet we choose to limit God. We choose to limit Him by what we can see or calculate. We limit Him with our budgeting and our small plans and our timid goals. We look at almighty God, the glory of His creation, the story of His miraculous interactions with us, and the wonder of His love demonstrated by the sacrifice of His son on the cross and fear we won't be able to pay the electric bill. We don't risk starting something new even when we're sure God has called us to it because we can't figure out how we can afford it. We don't risk going where God has called us to go because we can't determine for certain that it's safe enough. We don't risk praying with all boldness and confidence because we might be embarrassed if God doesn't come through and answer our prayers.
Maybe I'm projecting here a bit so I'll change 'we' to 'I' in all those sentences above. You can determine if it also defines you. All I can say is that in over 30 years of ministry experience I've sat in far too many meetings where small plans and timid goals were made because those assembled around the table couldn't see how a big plan could be accomplished.
God is not safe. He is wild, untamed and ready to take you places that will terrify you. If you want to be in a relationship with a God who comforts you, gives you peace, keeps you safe and never pushes you out of your comfort zone then you're not looking for a relationship with the God of the Bible. When it comes to defining risk we need look no further than all the dying churches striving to live on shrinking budgets with small plans, timid goals and no vision hoping to pay next month's electric bill to know that serving a safe god is the only real risk. Stop taking that risk and start seeking God's plans that will terrify you because you have no idea how they will be accomplished...but you'll pursue them anyway.
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