Nothing Impossible with God

“And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:36-37, ESV).

The angel told Mary that nothing was impossible with God. Her friend, mentor and too-old-to-have-children relative Elizabeth was pregnant and Mary was having the Holy-Son of God. Wow, that's a lot of miracles all at once. Mary believed the angel. It was simple faith. She believed that God could miracles and believed she was experiencing one.

In the past few weeks, I've been praying for God to take over some "impossible" things happening. Within just a matter of days, two of my friends have had cancer return - one breast cancer and one eye cancer. One healed for four years or so, one healed for twenty years. Then poof, there it is again. With no notice or warning, both are back in the whirlwind of doctors, surgery, and all things uncertain. I know I speak for many of us when I say that I am ready for a couple of miracles. I'm ready for God to take two impossible situations and intervene! Lord, please heal Paula and Lisa! Lord, I believe that You can do the impossible and provide healing to their bodies. And as I write this, there are so many "impossible" situations...I pray for healing and for God to do the impossible in each life. So many needs, so many hurts.

I don't know why God allows some to be pregnant and some not. I don't know why He heals some and some He doesn't heal. What I do know is that He is there, He listens, He cares, He speaks, and He can. Some day maybe we will understand, maybe we won't. I trust that whatever you are going through, you will trust Him to do the impossible in your life. With God, all things are possible and I, for one, am praying that He will do the impossible and heal Paula and Lisa. I'm praying for you too.

Lord, give us the simple faith of Mary to believe in You.

"Holy Spirit entrance"

In the front of a school in Louisville, there is a sign that leads into a driveway lined by trees that reads, "Holy Spirit Entrance." My roommate brought to my attention the humor in it! In fact, "Holy Spirit" is actually the name of the school, for Kindergarten through eighth graders. We know that Holy Spirit, in this case, means that the entrance to the school is near that sign. However, in everyday life, it is easy to believe that if we do one thing, then the Holy Spirit will be with us.

The Bible is clear, though, that whatever we do is marked with God's grace and fueled by His power alone. In chapter ten of Mark, Jesus explained a story of a rich man and how difficult it is for people to enter the kingdom of God. Yet, in verse 27, "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.'" Thank God that the all-powerful God wants to save us!

A commonly-read story explains the incomparable, saving power of our God. In Daniel, chapter 3, God-followers Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to worship the idols of polytheist King Nebuchadnezzar. The king decides to throw them in a furnace, leaving them to burn to death. They respond in verse 17, "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king." Later in the chapter, we watch as God in fact does save them, and they arise from the fire without harm!

King Nebuchadnezzar is moved by this, and he declares "to the peoples, nations, and men of every language, who live in all the world: May you prosper greatly! It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the most High God has performed for me" (Daniel 4:1-2). Indeed, the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's rock-hard faith has passed throughout the generations.

I pray that we are able to live for Him and His glory, that we may remember that it is Christ alone who saved us, and that it is His name that we are to spread the good news about all across the world.

Other verses about God's saving grace: Romans 11:23, 2 Corinthians 9:8, Hebrews 7:25