GOD PROMISES TO HELP YOU DO WHATEVER HE WANTS
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
The world is big today on affirmation: “You can do it,” “Just do it.” We convince our children that they can do anything they want. We even expect that of ourselves, which sometimes leaves us feeling like a failure when we aren’t able to do anything and everything. Some even quote Paul as saying, “I can do all things” (Philippians 4:13). But Paul isn’t saying we can do everything, he is saying that we can do everything God wants us to do “through Christ who gives me strength”(Philippians 4:13).
Every passage in Scripture must be taken in context and in Philippians 4 Paul is talking about the importance of being content in life, no matter if we have a lot or very little. The key, Paul says, is contentment. In addition, Paul says he “learned” to be content. A newborn baby is anything but content. It wants what it wants and wants it immediately. Patience and acceptance of life as it is doesn’t come easy as children grow. It doesn’t come naturally to any of us. On a scale of 1 to 10, how content would you say you are? Where would God place you on that scale?
There is no excuse to be anything but a 10 in contentment, because God promises to give us the strength, we need to accept life as it is. If Paul can learn, thought God’s power, to be content with prison, persecution, near-death experiences, rejection, beatings and betrayal by friends, God will be able to give us contentment as well – but we must turn to Him for it.
If God wants us to be content, He will give us the strength to be able to do it. The principle is clear: if God wants you to do (or stop doing) something, then He will give you the strength to do it. A Christian can never say “I can” in their own power, nor can they say “I can’t” with God’s power available.
When is the last time you said, “I can’t”? Confess that as sin. It is a lie. Memorize this verse, Philippians 4:13, and repeat it over and over all day.
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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