I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13, NKJV

 

Sometimes, all we need is a little faith in ourselves, and complete faith in God!

 

Did you know that you can do anything that God wants you to? So many people lead a subpar life because they either do not know this truth, or because they do not believe it. But just think about it for a moment: Do you really believe that anything could prevent you from accomplishing what God wants you to accomplish? To have this type of attitude is both a danger and a pity. A danger because it risks our very soul when we fail to give our best efforts in God's service. It is a pity, because by doubting ourselves and God, we doom ourselves to a quality of life that is far less than God desires for us.

 

So, if we are failing to accomplish great things in God's service, we need an attitude adjustment. This article is about that adjustment.

 

First, I am convinced that we need to stop looking at the Bible as a set of advice that may or may not work. When God tells us that we can do all things through Christ, we need to understand that we really can do all things. It is the "through Christ" part of the verse that will help us. It is obvious that God is not going to help us do anything that will be destructive to the souls of others or ourselves. Since this is the case, we need to focus our efforts on things that are appropriate. That means no sin!

 

I'm not saying that we will not sin, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, but we do need to do our absolute best to avoid it. That means if our goal is to be with a lot of beautiful women or handsome men, then we rethink what God wants us to be doing. It means if we want to be fabulously wealthy so that we can indulge our every whim, that we should not be seeking God's help in this area. It also means that we cannot be seeking His help in gaining revenge so that we can get back at those who have wronged us. Vengeance is God's exclusive realm, and He will not help us to accomplish anything that encroaches upon that realm.  

 

But, having eliminated all of the sinful and destructive things from our list of desired accomplishments, we can then concentrate on things that God wants us to do. He wants us to lead a good life - we can do that with His help. He wants us to seek and save the lost, again, this is something entirely within our reach. It doesn't mean that He will force anyone to become a Christian just because both He and we want them to do so (free-will is still involved) but it does mean that He will assist us in having the best opportunity to win souls for Christ. 

 

We also need to know that He will give us every opportunity to have what we need for our physical well-being. We won't starve because God wants His servants to have enough strength to serve Him. He will also give us all of the tools that we need to take reasonable care of ourselves in order that we might be in the best physical condition possible to engage in His service. The One who clothes the flowers of the field and feeds the birds of the air will also give you ample opportunity to acquire these things for your own life, so we needn't worry about these physical necessities. Note that I am not saying that we won't have to work for them, or have the proper concern needed to motivate ourselves to do our part, I am just pointing out that He will do His.

 

And now we come to the part that everyone wants to know about: God really will help us to accomplish our dreams, if they are good for His service and for our lives. So. if He knows that your being a professional ball player is the very best thing for His Kingdom, then He really will help you accomplish it! It will take massively hard work on your part, but if that is what He desires for your life's service, you are guaranteed that He will do His part. It also means that if He wants you to marry that wonderful woman (if you are a man) or that wonderful guy (if you are a woman) then He will make sure that it happens. The thing we have to remember is that God does not always desire the things that we do, so that career in the NBA or that marriage you have been planning for your equivalent of Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt may not be in your future. God will not assist you in getting anything that will be a detriment to your life or your service to Him, so just let those little disappointments fuel you to seeking to find what His will is for you, rather than trying to force Him to help you get what is not.

 

Finally, understand that while living God's will does have some temporary disappointments, it comes complete with eternal joy. The One Who pulled David from the obscurity of tending sheep to the ruling of a nation as one history's most powerful kings can help you accomplish anything He wants for you. You really do have an exciting life waiting for you - one that is filled with opportunity, high achievement, and incredible joy, if you will be willing to give it everything you have, and if you will be willing to accept His will for you in this wonderful life He has blessed us with.

 

All you need is a little faith in yourself, and complete faith in God and Christ.   

 

For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, "Move from here to there" and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.

Matthew 17:20, ESV