Monday Morning Memo: He's Got This!

Well, we have survived the Christmas of 2020.  No, it didn’t look like other Christmases from years past…but nothing could change the main focus…the beautiful babe in Bethlehem.

 

With Christmas now over, many of us are more than ready to see this year become a thing of the past, but then we have to wonder what 2021 will bring.  None of us could have foreseen what this year would hold and of course, we can’t know for sure what this coming year will look like either.  For some, looking ahead brings great tension, stress and fear and it can easily send them wanting to hibernate because they feel they just can’t face the unknown.

 

That word “can’t” can easily become a word that infiltrates our vocabulary these days.  I can’tface the unknown…I can’t keep isolating from my friends and family…I can’t keep wearing a mask…I can’t keep working from home…I can’t keep handling my kids virtual learning…I can’t stay in my marriage…I can’t do what Christ is asking me to do…I. just. can’t.

 

I think it is important for us to remember that whenever we think we can’t do something…we need to ask God if HE can.  You see, if it is something that He wants us to do…He CAN give us whatever it takes to get through.  I believe He wants us to stop dwelling on what we can’t do and start focusing on what He can do through us.  We need to allow Him to use the difficulties that we face for His glory and not use them as our excuse.  We must be willing to live “beyond the limits” of our comfort zone so that God can accomplish great things through us for His glory.

There is a huge problem though…Satan doesn’t like this at all.  He doesn’t want us to accomplish anything for God, especially if it draws others to want Him as their Lord and Savior.  He wants us to remain stagnant…living inside our protective bubble…settling for the status quo.  Unfortunately, it’s really easy for us to want to remain there too.

I have written before that I have a lot of respect for Corrie Ten Boom and the amazing testimony she had throughout her life…even when she was in the worst of circumstances.  When she spoke, her words were so powerful and they are still having a huge impact long after she received her eternal reward.  Corrie was a child of God who wasn’t afraid of pushing herself way beyond her human capabilities, knowing that wherever God led her, He would give her exactly what she needed every step of the way.

I read a quote of hers this past week that was exactly what I needed.  Her timely words were, “When we are powerless to do a thing, it is a great joy that we can come and step inside the ability of Jesus.”  In other words, when Satan is whispering over and over in my ear that I can’t do something. that I am too weak to accomplish a task, I can smile right back at him and yell, “You are right Satan…I can’t…but HE CAN!”

What a difference it makes when we realize Whose abilities and power we can tap into!  There isn’t anything that we will face that is beyond God’s capabilities.  There isn’t any detour on our journey in which He doesn’t know where we will end up.  Nothing surprises Him…nothing makes Him fret…nothing overwhelms Him.  We can be assured that no matter what, His answer to us is, “Don’t worry…I’ve got this!”

Are you living in fear of what you might face tomorrow?  Are you afraid that if you commit to live completely sold out to God in 2021, He will ask you to do things that are way beyond your abilities?  You are right…He probably will…but He already knows when He asks that you can’t do it by yourself, but He knows that He can!  All He needs is your willingness to let Him lead and He will take care of the rest.

Here we go… into another year and I’m guessing there will be times when you and I feel powerless.  Let’s not forget that we have the privilege of “stepping inside the ability of Jesus”.  Just the thought of that gives me chills.  Let’s do this!

 

By the way…as I’ve done in the past…I will be taking the month of January off from sharing on my blog.  This year I have a couple projects I’m working on, so I will be concentrating on those ministry endeavors for a few weeks.  I plan to resume writing in February…hopefully refreshed and renewed!  Happy New Year!

“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.”  Ephesians 3:20-21 The Message

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:13