Before this year’s NBA season started, the Portland Trail Blazers were thought to have a good chance of making the playoffs with their strong backcourt led by Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, but not talented enough to be a top team in the Western Conference.

Surprisingly, they’ve proven people wrong by overachieving. With a recent 13-game winning streak that puts them third place in the standings, they are 9-1 in their last 10 games and are playing as well as any team in the league.

As a result, the perception, expectation, and respect for the Blazers’ abilities have greatly changed. ESPN.com’s Zach Lowe wrote, “Before this streak, the Blazers’ ceiling looked to be something like 45-win, first-round fodder…We can probably bump that ceiling up to a second-round playoff team that wins 48 to 52 games.”

That may not seem like a huge difference, but it changes how they approach this season and their future. The team now sees they’re capable of more than they thought, and realize their ceiling is much higher.

Just as we doubted the Blazers’ abilities, we often have limited faith in what God can do. How many times have we put Him in a box and placed a low ceiling on what He’s able to do? All too often we doubt and put a cap on His abilities.

By changing our perception, expectation, and respect for what God is capable of doing in us and through us, we begin to realize He is able to do so much more than we can even imagine.

We have to “bump that ceiling up,” or better yet, remove it all together. When we read Ephesians 3:20-21 (AMP) we can be encouraged to approach our lives with hope and excitement:

“Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.”

As followers of Jesus, we have access to the power of the almighty God who works within us. When we trust Him to do more than we’d ever expect, our faith and confidence can remain strong.

We serve the creator of the universe who can accomplish His purposes in ways that are beyond our comprehension. He is able to answer prayers and offer deliverance when it appears impossible.

So today, let’s expand our view of God’s power and “bump that ceiling up” for what can be accomplished when we operate out of His strength for His glory.

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray I would no longer limit Your abilities or doubt Your power. Help me fully rely on Your strength and spirit within me. I believe and trust that You can do superabundantly more than I could ever hope or pray. Thank you, Lord, for using me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.