When my children were small, they were not allowed to say the word can’t. Each time they would try, I’d say, “can’t” is not a word”. Over the years, I hardly recall them saying the word in reference to themselves much. I wanted them to get it down in the their spirits. I wanted to convince them that they could do anything and I was quite intentional about it. As a child, I was told I couldn’t sing and it impacted me to the point where I stopped singing for a while. Honestly, I don’t consider myself a Grammy award-winning singer but I can hold a tune or two. Yet, I have wondered how things would have been had I not been discouraged. The point that I’m trying to make is that we sometimes allow buy into his lies of the enemy. It’s very easy to do when we don’t know who we are in God and what His word says about us.
In Phillippians 4:13, Paul’s says, “I can do ALL things in Christ who strengthens me”. The word All is limitless. It is not restrictive or conditional. Why do we make it restrictive in our lives when God doesn’t? First, we have to know His word and take it in as truth. It isn’t enough to just know it. We have to allow it to take root in our hearts.
Matthew 13:19 says, “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path”.
Let’s examine this closer. The verse says when we hear it and don’t understand; it can be stolen. We understand by opening our hearts for the Holy Spirit to facilitate the seed-planting process. In order for the Word to be planted and take root, it’s seed has to fall on pliable soil. Our hearts have to be soft enough to allow the seed to settle in, take root, and grow. Hardened hearts can’t promote growth. It’s like tossing seeds on the concrete and expecting a plant to grow. It’s not going to happen. We have to keep our hearts prepared by walking in repentance and forgiveness. We have to guard our hearts so that we can grasp the word of truth and allow it to saturate our souls. Then, we can resist the false reports of enemy regardless of who the messenger is.
Years ago, some things were said to me that were very hurtful. I am usually not a person that takes much to heart but I have been guilty of doing so if it is coming from someone whom I really love and value. Gradually, I found myself nursing what was said and then the enemy started telling me negative things. After a while, I felt the spirit of God rise up in me and I began to remind myself of what God says about me. Then, I asked the Lord to reveal any truth in it that I needed to deal with. Also, I asked God to forgive me for allowing the lies of the enemy to quiet His confession of who I am. Since then, I have used that experience to grow and better myself. What the enemy meant for evil, God used it for good. That is why it is so important for us to find our identity in Christ because the enemy will try to rob us of our true identity if we don’t.
Psalms 119:11-16 reads,” Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.” KJV
In this life, we will be faced with challenges and may feel defeated. There will also be times when we doubt ourselves. However, we have to activate the word of God in and over our lives. We can only do that if we have hidden it in our hearts. Then, we can draw from it like a well and refresh our souls. When we find ourselves in these situations, we can remind ourselves of all the times God came through and allowed us to make it in His power and not in our own strength. The truth may be that “You Can’t” in your own ability but God can do it by His power operating through you.
Are there any tasks that seem too big lying before you? Have you convinced yourself that you can’t possibly complete the task? Have you allowed someone else to tell you that you can’t do it? Whose words are you going to believe? Will you believe a third person report or the report of the Lord? He created you and He knows what you are capable of.
Let your “can’t” become “His Can” and then “You Can”.
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