Nothing is Impossible

There has been some serious "stuff" going on in Alex's family lately and I haven't exactly been compassionate and loving towards the people that I should be. My attitude has been one of frustration, criticism, anger, and arrogance. I've prayed that my heart would change and that I would have the right perspective on the situation and God answered. Yesterday at church, we sang "Healer" by Kari Jobe. If you're not familiar with the song, here are the lyrics:

Healer

You hold my every moment
You calm my raging seas
You walk with me through fire
And heal all my disease

I trust in You
I trust in You

I believe You're my healer
I believe You are all I need
I believe You're my portion
I believe You're more than enough for me
Jesus, You're all I need

Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible
Nothing is impossible for You
You hold my world in Your hands

When we got to the "nothing is impossible" part, I started thinking about this situation in our family and how I've been saying that it feels like it's impossible for these certain individuals to change. They've made many bad choices, suffered numerous consequences, seemingly lost everything, and despite hitting bottom over and over, they still won't turn away from sin and ask God to redeem them. Yet, I am a sinner just like them, and God saved me. What if He had thought that I was a hopeless case? What if God had thought I was incapable of changing my sinful ways? Even though we tend to rank sins in order of their "horribleness", regardless of how great the consequences for sin may be, all sin separates us from God. So, I'm just as horrible and messed up as these people that I judge. These people that I struggle to love.

But then there's this song that says, "Nothing is impossible for You". They aren't a hopeless case. They can be saved. Their lives CAN be redeemed. Jesus died for every.single.person.on.earth. Including them. His blood is enough for them. His love is enough for them. Just because I can't wrap by little head around it and my poor human eyes can't see hope for their salvation on the horizon, doesn't mean that God is incapable. Nothing is impossible for God.

"For with God, nothing shall be impossible." Luke 1:37 KJV

And it is still my responsibility as a Christian to love them. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34. And I need to stop thinking of myself as better than them because I have my own sin to deal with. "How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Luke 6:42

I'm so thankful that "The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love." Psalm 103:8 NLT and that He didn't give up on me. That He is still working on me. That I can "be confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" Philippians 1:6 NIV. And just as these things are true for me, they are true for every one of us. Nothing can separate us from God's love, from His grace, from His goodness, from His salvation. "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39 NIV. And just as God will never give up on me, I can't give up believing for the salvation and redemption of these loved ones.

And This Week's Memory Verse Is...

Our church just finished up a four-night production of Heaven's Gates and Hell's Flames, a drama depicting different scenarios where people die and either go to heaven or hell. At one point, Satan comes out and talks to the audience and quotes a scripture (I can't remember which one!) and then says, "What? You're surprised I know scripture? I know lots of Scripture - way more than you do!" I knew that Satan knew scripture because he manipulated it to try and tempt Jesus in the desert. But this part of the play convicted me. Satan does know way more scripture than me and I need to memorize more of God's Word so that I have weapons to fight spiritual warfare.

"10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6: 10-17

The sword of the spirit is the Word of God, the only piece of armor that can be used to fight back against the enemy. I can't waive my helmet of salvation at the devil and make him flee. If anything, that puts a bigger target on my back. He hates that I'm saved and wants to see me turn my back on God.

"10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10

The word of God is the best weapon I have to defeat the lies of the enemy. When he whispers little "white lies" to deceive me, I have to speak the truth of the Word so that the lies don't take root in my heart.

I came home from watching the drama on Tuesday and wrote down probably 10 scriptures on index cards that I want to memorize right away. My goal is to memorize at least one verse a week (52 a year). I took the first note card to work with me, leaned it up against my computer monitor and memorized a scripture on the first day. Not only do I want to have God's Word in my heart to fight against Satan, but I want to be able to teach it to my children, pray it over my family, and encourage other people with the Truth. No more "garbage in, garbage out" mentality. I want to speak hope, truth, life into other people's lives. I want to stand firm in my faith. I want to fight the good fight and not grow weary and lose heart. Sometimes battles seem like there's no end in sight, but the Word says "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours" Mark 11:24

"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

"I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" Jeremiah 32:27

The Bible instructs us to hide God's word in our hearts that we "might not sin against God" (Psalm 119:11) and also says that the word is "sharper than a double-edged sword...it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12). The Word is powerful! It keeps us from sin, convicts of us wrong attitudes, strengthens us in weakness, connects us to God's heart, gives us instructions on how to live our lives. I don't know about you, but I want more of that in my life!