For decades now, I’ve purposed to live my life by that which I can do, and not that which is totally undo-able. You know the personality. Nothing can’t do anything until they do something to prove that anyone can do anything.
I’ve even taught about this at church, in classroom settings, and to just about anyone who will listen.
I called one lesson: “Don’t Let Your Weakness Define You”. Then, I described situations of weakness that did not limit others from accomplishing something major. You know, finishing that degree that’s 40 years in the making when time and energy are nearly spent. Rebuild that engine that you were warned time again, “But you’re not a mechanic!” Start a church when too many say, “I could never do that!”
My goal has been that we will all have a role to play improving life, and reaching this world as we are commissioned to do. I do not want us limiting ourselves in accomplishing the task.
So, I have been praying and contemplating better ways that we can reach this world. Yet, all I could see was the weakness of the church. The limitations we put on ourselves, doubting that we have no skills that could reach a lost person. As a whole, we are so distracted with the entertainment that is being offered that we lose vision on what our mission is supposed to be.
Here’s My Thought Today
Our distraction is basically our destruction. Wait, didn’t I hear Bishop Kilgore preach this 40 years ago? Yep. Maybe preaching does make an impression on someone down the road! See!
In fact, I am so easily drawn to this subject because I see the weaknesses that are working within me. Limitations that keep me from becoming all that God wants for me. Where do most of the limits exist? In our mind. We talk ourselves out of our possibilities and feel justified. Why? We are often willing to simply “pass the buck” and let someone else do it.
Come on! We need to refresh our confidence! We look at what others are doing, and think, “There’s absolutely no way I could _______” and you get to fill in the blank! What about your divine call from God? Don’t you trust him?
That’s were Paul’s message rings clear and this should be a key scripture in our lives. We need to be confident that God has called us to this time for a divine purpose.
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13 KJV
One of the biggest problems we face is our own self. We are often our own worst enemy! In the midst of something new we often see only the failure of our past. We magnify our limitations, drown our possibilities, and ignore the successes of the past.
The Bible is replete with examples of people who needed the influence to do the right thing. The results? They are blessed for following the commandments of God. Each of them had limits placed on their ability to act. Limits that were either self-imposed or even dictated by others.
Think about it with me
David was one who did not limit himself. Before Goliath, it was the lion and the bear. We don’t hear of what was before the two critters, but something led him steadily forward with small accomplishments. He built his future on positive actions.
In other words, he reinforced his personal view with positive actions in the face of daunting odds, and even future failures.
Look at Peter for just a moment. In the midst of a storm, Jesus comes walking across the waters. Fearful of the waves and the startling image of Jesus, he finally calls out – “…if it be thou, bid me come unto thee ON the water…”. Consider all the factors at that very moment. (Matthew 14) Do you recognize any limiting factors?
- They had just experienced the feeding of the thousands where 12 baskets of fragments remained
- Jesus had commanded they cross to the other side and was not with them in the boat.
- Not only were they in the midst of the water, during a stormy time, but it was also night time. Scary things happen when you cannot see with clarity around you. You never know what’s creeping around the edges of the light.
- When Jesus appears, there is a great fear among all the disciples. Fear can run rampant in a group of any size and seems to be magnified by all the parties involved.
Then Peter calls out IN his fear and asks for permission to go out ONTO the water where Jesus was in the midst of a miracle! What was in his mind that he thought he could walk on water? What was in his heart that allowed him to talk to Jesus in the midst of the storm?
Here’s a little secret
When you think you can – it will propel you to do what you can!
If you don’t think you can ____________ (fill in the blank) – chances are you never will! However, get the “ I think I can” attitude – you will be propelled into that which you think you can!
There has to be something inside of us that says “I Can…” even when all the facts point us to inevitable failure. Imagine all the acts of testing the technology that propels a spacecraft to the moon. There had to be a first step somewhere!
Of course, we all know the children’s story called, “The Little Engine That Could.” (1906) Essentially it is told to teach children about optimism and hard work. The storyline is basically this:
There is a train of cars filled with toys for Christmas delivery. Other trains have been asked to carry the train, but for various reasons, they have refused. Finally, a little engine is asked to try (although I suspect no one thought the little engine could accomplish the task). As the engine attaches to the cars and begins the trek, he utters the phrase, “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.” The faster he goes, the faster the mantra. When he finally reaches the top of the mountain and begins down the other side, free of the stress of trying, he rejoices with the refrain, “I thought I could, I thought I could, I thought I could.”
Source
Not that we adults need to take a lesson from a century old story, but there is something about taking to heart the message we teach to our children! When the task seems impossible, having a moment of clarity and utter to ourselves, “Perhaps I can. I think I can. Yes, I can!”
Recognize Accomplishments
If only one person (even myself!) can complete this blog and have a change of heart from their negative thinking into what the possibilities are – then I feel I have accomplished something I started last week!
It is amazing what a single person can accomplish with a “Can Do” attitude! Sometimes, however, the weight of all the naysayers will weigh down the positive opportunities and create circumstances of failure.
Consider the twelve spies went in to spy out the God Given Promised Land.
They all saw the same promised lands and potential adversities. When they returned, ten spies had nothing but tales of doom and failure, the enemy was huge (“We are as grasshoppers in their sight.”), and we do not have enough on our side to accomplish the task. Yet, two had the “Can Do” attitude. Fear of the attitude from the ten swept through the nation of Israel and they remained in the wilderness for 40 more years! They wandered in the wilderness until the older generation died off, and the younger generation was prepared to attain what God had promised.
Except for the two positive speakers! Joshua. Caleb. They are recognized for their perspective and later they become the leaders of Israel marching into the Land of Promise!
Here is the key:
You must look at both the promises of God and the adversity that will try to stop you from possessing it!
Regardless of the adversity, you must say, “We can still possess what God has promised.” If you have the ‘I can do it’ attitude you are not going to be in the majority. It is the minority that will say ‘there may be giants in the land, but we CAN still possess it’… This land is our land!
You know you have the “I can do it ‘ Attitude when you can look at your worst-case scenario and yet you can still say: ‘I Can Do It’. Doctors do this all the time! As do Counselors, Teachers, Parents, and yes, even politicians… (I just can’t put them into an “uppercase” position!).
An “I can do it” attitude is NOT just for the young – there is no age limit when it comes to possessing the promises of God.
Once Gained, The Attitude Doesn’t Leave!
Caleb NEVER lost the “ I can do it attitude’. At 90 years of age he bragged that his health and stamina was still there! Give me this mountain! Come on folks? What mountains are you facing?
It is more than just saying “I Can”, you must say “I will”!
- I can be victorious and I will be victorious
- I can do this and I will do this!
If your speech and action begin to work in concert, it will not be long before you start seeing victory! First one victory, and then the next. Each victory propels you forward, even when their are losses. Even when failures occur. You have the “I Can Do ALL Things” attitude!
If your speech and action begin to work in concert, it will not be long before you start seeing victory!First one victory, then the next. Each victory Helps you even when failure happens. Share on XIt is useless for me to tell you that you can if you are not willing to do what you think you can!
Each person knows the calling of God on their lives. Your dreams and visions during your walk with God are not there by accident. You may think you can be used of God, but just thinking about it is not enough! You have to be willing and get up and move in the right direction!
Finally
Pardon the reference, but I love this quote by Yoda: “Do or do not. There is no try.”
Finally, Paul had great confidence in what he knew that he could do THROUGH Christ! Were he to face life only through his own strength, I am sure there would have been many failures along the way. Still, he faced many challenges and perils along the way.
Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. (23) Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. (24) Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. (25) Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; (26) In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; (27) In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. (28) Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
~2 Corinthians 11:22-28
Do not let the weight of the direction of life confuse you. Develop that “Can Do” attitude and enjoy the results!
If you think your life is bad and your talents are minimal of doing anything correctly, watch this video and see if it will not change your outlook a little!