IS IT REALLY POSSIBLE?
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26 (NIV)
When faced with a problem or task, people often fall into the trap of trying to tackle the entire issue all at once. For instance, when they want to live a healthier lifestyle, they make drastic changes to their diet and work out for an hour every day. Two days later, the same people with the best intentions are binge-watching Netflix and eating an entire large pizza. Is it really possible to make changes?
What happened? Why wasn't there consistent follow-through? Sometimes, we don’t think through the effort it takes to turn our goals into reality. Other times, we don’t take ownership of the goal because it was someone else's idea for us. Maybe we tried to make a big change without any support from others. Or maybe we just like pizza!
There's an old saying: How do you eat an elephant? Answer: One bite at a time. The idea of actually eating an elephant is probably not appetizing. However, the lesson is about making something that seems impossible possible.
The Bible talks about change occurring over a lifespan. We go through this, and it’s called Sanctification. Ultimately, God takes His time to work on His changes in us. And He’s with us during those times. Some seasons bring a lot of growth. In other seasons, it feels like nothing is changing or we’re even going backwards. Don’t lose hope! God is working in you. He’s sanctifying you to be set apart for His purpose. Ask for His help to stay close to Him and not quit. He won’t let you down!
APPLICATION: As you focus on something you’re trying to accomplish or change, invite some friends to join you on that journey. Ask them for accountability and encouragement. Approach God together for wisdom on the best path forward.
PRAYER: Father, thank You for being with me as I go through this life. Show me how to let You help me. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?