Can I ?

On my way home from work today I was listening to a local Christian radio station here in Chattanooga, J103, interview a very talented girl that appeared on the show American Idol a while back. Mandisa, appeared on the show during it's fifth season, making it to the final ten contestants. I'm not much of an American Idol fan, but I do remember Mandisa because she had an encounter with Simon Cowell over some comments he had made about her weight. These comments really hurt the singer, yet Mandisa, on national television, looked Simon in the eyes and expressed her forgiveness to him because of her faith in Jesus Christ. I wonder if I, or you, as a believer would ever do that, especially knowing that millions of others would be able to see it. I find we might not even be so bold to speak up for what Christ has done in our lives and extend our forgiveness to friends who have hurt our feelings, let alone someone whom we don't even know.

So it got me thinking about something. I've always been a natural pessimist, yet I've always wanted to be an optimist. However, when it comes to speaking with others or helping others, being an optimist has always come easy. But when I relate to myself or think about my circumstances, I'm just a pessimist. Plain and simple. So naturally, I look at most things in life with an attitude of "I can't" and come up with a million reasons of why it is not possible. But the Bible teaches us something very different. Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all thing through Christ who strengthens me." It teaches us that "God can". So the key is not what we might naturally think or feel, but rather our focus on who can. When we wake up and focus on what we can't do, we get no help in accomplishing anything. But if we begin to shift our focus to God who can, then and only then, will we begin to experience something completely greater in our lives.

I've talked many times on this blog about the abundant life God promises believers in John 10:10. It's very true that God's desire for us is to experience something much greater than the hustle and bustle of this earthly life. But, without our focus being changed, it honestly might never happen. So tomorrow, we have a choice, when we get up out of bed and get ready for work, the question will propose itself once again and repeat itself for the rest of our lives ... I Can't or He Can?

What will you choose tomorrow?