I met with a couple that were paralyzed by a list of difficult circumstances. Through the years I've learned there's more to everyone's story than what is seen at first glance. But. Their story described a life that seemed unusually difficult in every area, especially in some of their significant relationships, their health, and in their finances. They had come to a place where their passion and vision for life had been lost. And. It did seem like they were in an impossible place.
Consider the conversation between Jesus and the paralyzed man in Mark 2:
"I tell you, stand up, take your mat, and go home." Immediately the paralyzed man stood up, took his mat, and walked out while everyone was watching him. The people were amazed and praised God. They said, "We have never seen anything like this!" (Mark 2:11-12, NCV).
Imagine the scene. The man was paralyzed, his legs weakened and atrophied from years of inactivity, and, yet, he stood. The power of Jesus' words to stand, caused him to stand. He was strong enough to stand, to pick up his mat, and to walk. The paralyzed man did what Jesus said to do. And. Jesus gave him the power to do it. Simple. Powerful. A reminder:
What would happen if Jesus asked you to stand in faith regardless of what you are facing today? Would you stand? Would you wait until it made sense? Would you stand regardless of what others said to do? Do you live with the belief that Jesus will give you the power to stand when you feel paralyzed in the stuff of life?
Following Jesus has never been and never will be about what we're able to do on our own, but its about living beyond ourselves in His divine presence and supernatural power. How is this possible when we're faced with the hard stuff of life? God's Word is clear: Be strong and courageous! The only way it's possible to be strong and courageous, including the seasons of adversity, is through the presence and power of the Spirit. We are weak, but He is strong.
So.
When the impossible comes your way, and it will, stand when Jesus says to stand.
Refuse to be paralyzed in the stuff.
Do what Jesus says to do: Stand strong. The Spirit will give you the strength to stand, making all things possible, for you to go forward.
Learning to Kickstart the day by standing strong,
Kerrie
(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)
The thing is . . . when we are in an impossible place of life . . . we need to be ready to do what God tells us to do.We're promised a highly unusual promise: Nothing is impossible with God. Nothing. And. I'm the first to say, I've experienced the impossible becoming possible. It's God who will give us the strength to stand when we're weak and paralyzed in the stuff of life.
Consider the conversation between Jesus and the paralyzed man in Mark 2:
"I tell you, stand up, take your mat, and go home." Immediately the paralyzed man stood up, took his mat, and walked out while everyone was watching him. The people were amazed and praised God. They said, "We have never seen anything like this!" (Mark 2:11-12, NCV).
Imagine the scene. The man was paralyzed, his legs weakened and atrophied from years of inactivity, and, yet, he stood. The power of Jesus' words to stand, caused him to stand. He was strong enough to stand, to pick up his mat, and to walk. The paralyzed man did what Jesus said to do. And. Jesus gave him the power to do it. Simple. Powerful. A reminder:
We aren't responsible to make things happen on our own but rather to do what God says to do. God gives power to the weak.There's amazing power in our life when we stand in the place Jesus calls us to stand. It takes courage to do something God asks us to do when no one else would ever dream of asking us to do that very thing. Jesus told the paralyzed man to stand. Who does that? How is it possible to ask a paralyzed man to stand? But, that's what God asks us to do . . . to refuse to be paralyzed by the stuff of life . . . to stand when He says to stand, regardless of how impossible it all seems.
What would happen if Jesus asked you to stand in faith regardless of what you are facing today? Would you stand? Would you wait until it made sense? Would you stand regardless of what others said to do? Do you live with the belief that Jesus will give you the power to stand when you feel paralyzed in the stuff of life?
Following Jesus has never been and never will be about what we're able to do on our own, but its about living beyond ourselves in His divine presence and supernatural power. How is this possible when we're faced with the hard stuff of life? God's Word is clear: Be strong and courageous! The only way it's possible to be strong and courageous, including the seasons of adversity, is through the presence and power of the Spirit. We are weak, but He is strong.
So.
When the impossible comes your way, and it will, stand when Jesus says to stand.
Refuse to be paralyzed in the stuff.
Do what Jesus says to do: Stand strong. The Spirit will give you the strength to stand, making all things possible, for you to go forward.
Learning to Kickstart the day by standing strong,
Kerrie
(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)