Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Can the Apostle Paul really mean this literally? Did he actually believe that there was nothing he could not do? Well, when he said that he could do all things, he meant all the things which were God’s will for him to do. Paul had learned that the Lord’s commands are also the Lord’s enablements. He knew that God would never call on him to accomplish some task without giving him the necessary power to fulfill that task. Just prior to this verse, Paul says that in every situation he finds himself, he has learned to be content. So whether things in his life were easy or they were hard, he was confident that God would carry him through. That was the kind of faith Paul had in the Lord. If, in fact, the Lord is with you and you can do everything through His enabling, then believe that whatever He may ask of you, you can complete with His help. You see, either you believe this and become useful to God, or you don’t believe this and you fall short of the full blessings He has in store for you. The choice is ultimately yours.

Challenge:

Will you choose to believe that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you? Having the assurance that God is always with you to achieve His will through you, should bring you great hope. I wonder what wonderful things God has planned for you this week? What opportunities await that will show you that He can use you and that He wants to use you? Your challenge this week is to simply accept the enabling of the Lord in your life. Whether your days turn out great or they seem to fall short of what you may have hoped for, believe that God has used you to impact the life of another person. Trust the fact that those who are watching you are seeing your faithfulness and trust in the Lord even when things do not go your way. Remember, God has a way of working with bad situations and turning them into valuable experiences. Just as Paul reminded us in Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” You have been called according to His purpose, so live this week in the power and might of the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to do a good work through you.