If you asked me, Anita, why haven’t you _____ (you fill in the blank), I may have a million reasons why I can’t do it…
Later on, I’d ask myself if I really CAN’T do it or if I just WON’T do it!
Or could it be that I just don’t BELIEVE… Ouch! That one hurts…
Welcome back to Points of Purpose today we’re talking about Who’s Telling You You Can’t When…God’s Telling You You Can?
Those millions of reasons why we CAN’T can be place into at least 4 categories:
- It could be because of your CIRCUMSTANCES
- Because of the ENEMY
- Because of PEOPLE
- Or, it could just be because of YOU
Let’s take a quick look at CIRCUMSTANCES… Have you ever heard or have you said? I’m too OLD, YOUNG, INEXPERIENCED. Or I’ve got too much BAGGAGE (that’s code for past SIN), I don’t have the MONEY. Go ahead and fill it in the blank with your reasons.
If you think about, it they’re all excuses. And don’t get me wrong, it may seem TRUE, but here’s why I say it’s an EXCUSE. If He told you to do it, you’re capable and you have access to the resources you need because He’s with you.
AND I’m sure you can think of a Scripture to disprove EVER SINGLE REASON MENTIONED.
Ok so you think it’s too late because you’re too old. Let’s check in with Abraham and Sarah. Genesis 21:5 tells us that Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. (Genesis 21:5 ESV). That means Sarah was 90, so they waited about 25 years for the promise of Isaac to come to pass.
Too young? Jeremiah comes to mind. “Don’t say you’re too young,” the Lord answered. “If I tell you to go and speak to someone, then go! And when I tell you what to say, don’t leave out a word! I promise to be with you and keep you safe, so don’t be afraid.” (Jeremiah 1:7-8 CEV)
Can’t speak well? So what, I’ve heard that Moses was stuttering. So he’s telling God in Exodus 4:10b MSG “Master, please, I don’t talk well. I’ve never been good with words, neither before nor after you spoke to me. I stutter and stammer.”
Notice that each of them has a PROMISE from GOD. God told Abraham & Sarah they would have a child. He told Jeremiah; I’ll tell you what to say. He asked Moses. Who do you think made your mouth?
What promise has He given you? Are you holding onto THAT PROMISE? Are you rehearsing it until God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were. Romans 4:17b NHEB.
Ok so it’s not a CIRCUMSTANCE. What about the ENEMY. Lord knows he’s trying to wreak havoc.
We know he tried with Eve. Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” Genesis 3:1 NIV The enemy will plant seeds of doubt about what God told you.
Daniel was trying to understand a vision and the enemy even tried to hold up his answer to prayer. [However,] the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision concerns those days.”
Whether the enemy is trying to plant seeds of doubt or hold up your answer to pray, please remember that the ENEMY is already a DEFEATED FOE. You have the victory!!!
He defeated the rulers and powers of the spiritual world. With the cross he won the victory over them and led them away, as defeated and powerless prisoners for the whole world to see. Colossians 2: 15 ERV
Now what’s our EXCUSE?
PEOPLE. Some mean us well, and others WELL…they don’t!
Saul tried to kill David And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice. (1 Samuel 18:11 ESV And when Saul wasn’t trying to kill David he was sending other people to do it. People may not be trying to kill you, but they may intentionally or unintentionally be trying to kill your dream/your purpose.
Or they may simply be trying to discourage you from completing your assignment. Joseph’s dream that he would one day rule over his family got him in trouble.
So it came about, when Joseph reached his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the varicolored tunic that was on him; and they took him and threw him into the pit. (Genesis 37:23-24a NASB)
Many times, it’s not our circumstances, the enemy, or people. It’s just YOU! It’s just ME!
God told Gideon that He was going to use him to save Israel and here’s what he said.
“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” (Judges 6:15 NIV)
Ok so, Let’s DISMISS what bad CIRCUMSTANCES may be trying to show us, what the ENEMY is lying about, what PEOPLE are saying that’s NOT in alignment with what God is saying, and let’s ALIGN what YOU are saying with what GOD IS SAYING…
“For I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.” (Jeremiah 1:12b) He’s watching over His word to perform it.
In other words, STOP SAYING YOU CAN’T, WHEN GOD IS TELLING YOU THAT YOU CAN.
Don’t allow your mind to work against the Spirit of God. Meditate on the Word and allow the Scriptures to transform how you think. Trust God and respond appropriately to His TRUTH.
So, God told you something to do that you haven’t finished. Go back and repent for putting it off and DO IT! And Yes, YOU CAN!
See you next time!
Please subscribe to my channel. Thank you! https://bit.ly/youtubepointsofpurposewithanita