How To Do Impossible Things

I was struck recently by a statement the apostle Paul made in a letter to the church at Corinth about the gifts God had given to them.

Paul said that, through Christ, God had enriched their church with their eloquent words and all of their knowledge.

"I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge" (1 Corinthians 1:4-5, NLT, emphasis added).

The Power In Your Words

Words contain power. They have the power of the spirit that sent them, and when words are spoken, or written, they unleash the power of that spirit into the world.

When you belong to Christ, God gives you gifts of words and knowledge to enrich other believers. When you speak or write those words, you unleash the Spirit and power of God into the world.

Words are so important to God. God’s own Son is a word. The Word became flesh, the Bible says, and lived among us (John 1:1-14). Jesus is a Word that gives light and life, says John 1:4.

Humans were given great power from God when we were given speech. Proverbs 18:21 says death and life are in the power of the tongue.

Now is our season to use that power—to enrich the church, our families, our friends, and others around us with our words.

But what if it seems impossible?

Read on.

Living An Impossible Life

Robert Ferguson recently gave an inspired message that I will not soon forget. He shared his three favorite prayers:

  1. The one he prays when he has plenty of time (based on Matthew 6:9): “Father God, I praise your name….” 
  2. The one he prays when he doesn’t have time (based on Romans 10:12-13): “Jesus!” 
  3. And, the one he prays when he can’t do what he is called to do—when he wants to do the impossible (based on Psalm 46:1 and John 14): “God, help me!”

His words soaked down into the center of my spirit: "You cannot do what God has called you to do. You cannot be what God wants you to be. That’s why you require that third prayer. God wants you to live an impossible life.” – Robert Ferguson

Here’s the entire message by Robert Ferguson: A Very Present Helper. I highly recommend it.

My Mission Impossible

Years ago, when I first received the call from God to write Jesus as Healer, it was impossible for me. I was experiencing environmental toxicity and undiagnosed mold illness that had put my working memory and parts of the speech centers of my brain under a fog. (The symptom is even called “brain fog,” because, just like with the weather kind of fog, everything is still there, but it’s inconveniently shrouded.)

I could lose my train of thought mid-sentence when writing and not get it back, and I had trouble finding words that had been in my vocabulary for decades.

And that’s when God unmistakably called me to write a book.

You have got to be kidding, I thought. I knew I couldn’t do it. But I also knew it was unmistakably what he was asking me to do.

So I said yes to God.

With the right diagnosis and treatment to help clear mold toxins from my body, the sun came out and the fog began to clear. And when Jesus as Healer: Miracles and Meditations in Luke was published, it was one of the most spiritually victorious days of my life—not because of what I had done, but because of what God had done. God had done the impossible in my life. And that’s a thing you never forget.

Whatever impossible thing God is calling you to do today, in this season, here’s my eloquent, spirit-filled, enriching word to you: Say “yes.” Do it.

Before I had even finished writing Jesus as Healer, I knew that God had more books for me to write. Which seemed strange. Because at the time when I had said yes to writing Jesus As Healer, I had had no thought—none, zero—of ever writing any more books. That was just one “stray” request from God—an outlier, I thought—and I was doing it out of obedience because he had said so.

But then, over time, God’s Spirit spoke to me in various ways on multiple occasions, impressing on me that there were words that needed to be spoken in places where there was too much darkness and there needed to be light.

  • People living under the rock of unhealed physical problems were having their spirits squashed flat by that boulder. God had something to say to them.
  • People were wondering where God was when they were hurting and he didn’t seem to be doing anything about it—and their faith was dehydrating. God had something to say to them.
  • People couldn’t feel the warmth of God’s love on their faces and had lost their purpose for living and were dying inside. God had something to say to them.

And what became clear to me was that not only did God have something to say to those people, he had something to say to many of them through me. Not because I had chosen them as my people; God had chosen. Not because I had a message I wanted to share; God had a message.

And now you know a little more about why Stay and Faith with Grit were written—and about what God intends to do with them.

The next impossible mission for me is getting those books, those words of encouragement and faith, into the hands of the people God intended them for.

And I know I can’t do it. It is impossible for me.

And so I pray: “God, help me!”

Sharing Words that Build Faith

If someone you care about is living with health issues, going through a tough time, or could just do with some spirit lifting, consider whether one of these books might be the right word of encouragement to nourish their spirit:

All three books are available in both paperback and Kindle editions at Amazon.com.

Here’s a gift guide at my website where you can find out more about each book: Gift Guide

Enter to Win a Paperback Copy of Faith with Grit

I appreciate you—and every one of my email subscribers. To say thank you for being in my email community this year, I’d like to give away a paperback copy this month of my book Faith with Grit.

To have your name entered in the drawing, reply to this email by December 9 (at midnight central time) and type in the subject line “FAITH WITH GRIT BOOK.”

Recommended Reading

God used many books—many words—to enrich my spirit and my faith during 2019. Some brought a new freedom of one kind of another. Others cleared up questions to which I’d been seeking godly answers for a long time. Some opened my eyes to hidden situations that had perplexed or limited me. And others helped me take the next step into God’s calling for my life.

Here's a list of 10 books that surprised me—in a good way—in 2019. Maybe they'll surprise you, too.

And here are even more books that have grown the kingdom of God within me, each in some unique way: Recommended Reading.

May you find the very word or parcel of knowledge that God wants to use to enrich you.

Parting Words

The first thing God asks of anyone is to begin a relationship with him—and he has made that possible. Here’s how.

If you’re already in a relationship with God, what “impossible” thing is he asking you to do now—something that you can’t do without his power? And how has he been strengthening and enriching you to do it?

I’d love to hear about it. Hit reply to this email and let me know.

May his kingdom come and his will be done in our midst—in and through us, just as Jesus said in John 14:12.

AmyLu

P.S. Here's an amazing song whose words will remind your heart, mind, and spirit of the reality of God's power to do the impossible: Unstoppable God by Elevation Worship

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AmyLu Riley | P.O. Box 411, Roanoke
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