“Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” (Numbers 13:30-31 NKJV)
“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” (Mark 9:23 NLT)
“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:14 BSB)
All over town there are Billboard Ads which read, “It’s impossible, until it’s not.” A local medical supplier is promoting it’s services, and I for one think it’s campaign slogan is genius. That is because, whether they realize it or not, this concept is straight out of God’s Word.
If you are anything like me, it is easy to put limits on what you believe is possible in life. When I look at myself in the mirror I see a person with a number of imperfections and flaws. When I look around me I see a whole lot of other flawed people. When I listen to the voices all around me (media, politicians, preachers, co-workers, me) I hear about a mixed up, messed up world in which I live. The end result is that my optimism fades, and my hope begins to fail. The idea of things getting better, or dreams coming true, becomes more and more impossible. However, it’s only impossible, until it isn’t.
It was impossible to cross an ocean, until it wasn’t.
It was impossible to produce electricity, until it wasn’t.
It was impossible to fly, until it wasn’t.
It was impossible to travel into space, until it wasn’t.
It was impossible… (you fill in the blank) …, until it wasn’t!
Things that seem impossible are only impossible because my mind is too limited to look past what I currently understand. Thank God that I possess the Mind of Christ! When I stop limiting my thinking to what my natural mind can comprehend, and start thinking with the Mind of Christ, all things become possible.
A couple of nights ago I was watching one of my favorite movies with my Granddaughter Savannah, “Princess Bride.” I think she picked it because she knows how much I enjoy it (I know, I am spoiled). In the movie Wesley and Buttercup were running away from Prince Humperdink toward the Fire Swamp when Buttercup, in fear of entering the swamp said, “we will never survive.” I love Wesley’s reply, “Nonsense. You’re only saying that because no one ever has.” That is classic.
If all I see are “dangers, toils, and snares” I will never enter into all of the wonderful possibilities of life. If I am limited by what I think is impossible, then I will never experience the fullness of blessing that my Heavenly Father has for me. If I think I will never be healed, I probably won’t. If I think I will never live past a certain age, I probably won’t. If I am convinced I will never get ahead, I probably won’t. How I think produces how I speak. How I speak reinforces how I think. Then how I think and speak together direct how I act. The actions that I take directly impacts the results that I experience.
Thankfully the opposite is also true. If I will begin to speak what I desire, rather than what I don’t have or want, then I will begin to think in terms of possibilities. If I continue to speak these positive thoughts they will begin to direct how I act. This time these positive actions will positively impact my results. This is far more than “positive thinking” (even though that’s a whole lot better then “negative thinking”). The Bible speak very clearly about how powerful thoughts and words are, especially when we think and speak the promises of the Word of God. When we meditate, speak, and act on the Word of God the Holy Spirit goes into action on our behalf and partners with us for life changing results.
Remember the ten spies sent into the Promised Land to scope out what they were about to enter into? All ten saw the same thing. Eight said, “can’t be done.” Two (Caleb and Joshua) said, “we are well able.” Those that said impossible, got what they said and never entered the land. The two that said it is not only possible, it’s promised, entered in and enjoyed all of the promised blessings. All ten spies got what they confessed.
I choose to be like Caleb and Joshua and live with the expectation of the possibilities of…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 139: “It’s impossible, until it’s not.”