We must understand that Philippians 4:13 does not say we can do anything we want to do because we are strong enough, smart enough, or hard-working enough. No, in fact, it leaves no room at all for human effort or striving of any kind. The secret to being able to do what we need to do is realizing that we cannot do it alone; we can only do it in Christ. For some reason, we often fail to use our faith to believe and act on that truth. Instead, we think we have to do it all and, forgetting that the power of Christ works through us, we are defeated before we even begin. As I have mentioned previously, we are partners with God. We cannot do His part and He will not do our part. He wants us to believe and take action on His direction and leading, but He insists that we trust (lean and rely on) Him every step of the way. I hear so many people make comments such as, “This is too hard. I just can’t do this. It’s too much for me.” But I need to tell you, as a believer in Jesus Christ, you are full of the Spirit of God, and nothing is too difficult for you if God is leading you to do it. God will not call you to do anything He will not enable and empower you to do. He will not allow you to go through anything that is impossible for you. Our attitude toward unpleasant things is a vital part of going through them successfully. Although God never authors bad things, he does use them for our spiritual growth. For example, He may use a grouchy person to help us become more patient. God did not cause the person to be grouchy, but neither does He remove them from our life when we asked Him to. Instead, He uses them to change us! Most of our trials in life are the result of someone else’s failure, carelessness, ignorance, or sin and understandably, we pray for God to change them. I have discovered that just because I am asking God to change someone that does not mean they want God to change them and although my prayers open a door for God to work, He will not go against their free will to answer my prayer. While God is continuing to work in their life, they may be the tool he uses to form us into the vessel He wants us to be. I can pray for them to be pleasant, but I must joyfully accept each day as it comes, trusting God totally to enable me to do whatever I need to do that day.
God has given you the gifts, talents, abilities, and grace you need to do His will in life. God’s grace is actually His power and He will not only give you grace, but promises grace and more grace (see James 4:6). He never runs out of power-and His power is available to you! Now, if you don’t keep the right mind-set, the enemy can defeat you with thoughts of inadequacy, but if you make up your mind that you can do what you need to do, you’ll find yourself able to do it-not in your own strength, but in the strength God gives you.
Don’t speak out of your emotions because how we feel does not always agree with God’s Word. That is why it is important to realize that even though you feel overwhelmed, you should still say, “I can do whatever I need to do in life through Christ.”
Do you consider yourself a person who has faith in God? If so, has your faith reached your thoughts and words? We can easily deceive ourselves into thinking we have great faith but if we are easily defeated by challenges, then perhaps our faith are not as great as we thought it was. The Bible says that out of the heart the mouth speaks. We can learn a lot about ourselves by listening to ourselves. Do your thoughts and words reflect your complete dependence on God, realizing that His abilities (not your own) empower you to do anything you need to do in life? I had to examine my own thoughts and words and ask myself if I portrayed a person who had great faith in God, and I encourage you to do the same. I didn’t like all of my answers but the exercise in self-examination did open my eyes to understanding that I needed to make some changes. Realizing we are wrong in an area is never a problem. The problem comes when we refuse to face truth and continue making excuses. Be willing to face anything God wants to show you and ask Him to change you. If you are trusting in your own strength, begin to trust God instead. If you are trying to do things out of your own human abilities and growing frustrated, tell God you want Him to work through you and let His sufficiency be your sufficiency.
When challenges arise I encourage you to develop a habit of saying immediately, “I can do whatever I need to do through Christ Who is my strength.” Remember that words are containers for power, and when you say the right thing it will help you do the right thing. Don’t fill your container (words) with things that disable you, for truly you are able to do all things through Christ. As you meditate over and over on the power thought “I can do whatever I need to do in life through Christ,” you will find that you are not as easily overwhelmed by situations that arise. Each time you roll that power thought over in your mind or speak it, you are developing a healthy mind-set that enables you to be victorious.
Think about It
How often do you say, “This is too hard for me” or “I just can’t do this”?
Frequently________________
Occasionally________________
Almost never________________
What will you now begin to say to reflect your confidence in God’s ability to help you do whatever you need to do?
Big Spring
In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is a remarkable natural wonder-a pool about 40 feet deep and 300 feet across that Native Americans called “Kitch-iti-kipi,” or “the big cold water.” Today it is known as The Big Spring. It is fed by underground springs that push more than 10,000 gallons of water a minute through the rocks below and up to the surface. Additionally, the water keeps a constant temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit, meaning that even in the brutally cold winters of the Upper Peninsula the pool never freezes. Tourists can enjoy viewing the waters of Big Spring during any season of the year.
When Jesus encountered a woman at Jacob’s well, He talked to her about another source of water that would always satisfy. But He did not speak of a fountain, spring, river, or lake. He said, “Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14).
Far greater than any natural spring is the refreshment we have been offered in Christ Himself. We can be satisfied, for Jesus alone, the Water of Life, can quench our thirst. Praise God, for Jesus is the source that never runs dry.
Father, it seems that I drink far too often from the waters of the world that cannot satisfy. Forgive me, and teach me to find in Christ the water than can quench the thirst of my heart and draw me ever closer to You.
The only real thirst-quencher is Jesus- the living water.
Insight
Having conquered the northern kingdom of Israel, the Assyrians adopted a policy of racial assimilation. They brought in other peoples, who intermarried with the Israelites. The new race, the Samaritans, followed Judaism, although not fully (2 Kings 17:22-33). Because of this corruption (vv.20,22), the Jews despised them (Luke 9:52-54; John 4:9). A Jew traveling from Judea (in the south) to Galilee (in the north) typically avoided Samaria, which was sandwiched between the two regions. Jesus chose to go through Samaria to seek out a woman who needed Him (John 4:3-5,10-15).
Read: John 4:7-14
The water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. —John 4:14
Bible in a Year:
Numbers 20-22; Mark 7:1-13
