"You Can Do It"

Scripture: "I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]." -Philippians 4:13, Amplified Bible

As the Lord has brought us into the month of February, I am reminded of the greatest upset I ever witnessed in the sport of boxing. Twenty years ago, Mike Tyson, the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and known as the "baddest man on the planet", took a fight in Tokyo, Japan against the unheralded challenger, James "Buster" Douglas. Douglas came into the fight with a huge burden on his heart through the passing of his mother and having a huge chip on his shoulder because he was a 42-1 underdog. Within Douglas's mind and heart, he knew that he can upset Mike Tyson. If you were to listen to the interviews before the fight, Douglas told reporters that he would become the new heavyweight champ. Lo and behold, the fight takes place and after 10 rounds of action, Jimmy Lennon, Jr., the ring announcer said, "The winner and new undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, James Buster Douglas!" Through Douglas's example, he broke the invincibility of Mike Tyson and Tyson was never the same afterwards. Just as Douglas believed he could upset Mike Tyson, God has placed some things within your Spirit that says, "You can do it!" How do you know you can do it? Today's main scripture will empower you along these lines.

Today's devotional is in the epistle written by Paul to the church at Philippi. As Paul was writing this concluding chapter of Philippians, he exhorted or praised the people there in Philippi, he thanked them for their gifts, and he delivered some final greetings. Within Paul's thanksgiving of the church at Philippi's gifts, we are blessed to find today's main scripture, one that lets you know that you can do it whatever "it" is.

The Amplified Bible begins this familiar scripture by saying, "I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me". In other words, you ought to take five seconds right now, wherever you are and say, _________________ (your name) have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me. When you have been empowered by someone or something, it gives you power, it gives you endurance, it gives you strength. Look who is giving His strength to you: Jesus Christ. He's giving you the strength to tell the enemy no! He's giving you the strength to destroy anything that impedes your progress in life! He's giving you the anointing to preach the wounded and brokenhearted! He's giving you the strength to love those who despitefully use you! He has empowered you, ladies and gentlemen, with His strength to do ALL things! Stop saying you cannot do anything because in all actuality, you can do it!

The scripture continues in the Amplified Bible by saying, "I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me". My Father God, that ought to make you leap on the inside! When you have the strength of Jesus Christ, nothing can hold you down! No one can stop you from achieving greatness here on Earth! The only person that can stop you is you! One thing that God has blessed me with is a confidence to talk with higher level managers and others without fretting or anything. Why? It's because of the inner strength He has infused in me! Just as He has infused me with inner strength, you too, have inner strength! You have inner strength to deal with your marital issues! You have inner strength to make your finances get in line! You have inner strength to love your enemies! You have inner strength to get the job you deserve! You have inner strength to preach with the best of them! You have the inner strength to lose weight! Whatever you want to do, know that God says, You can do it and that you're ready for anything and equal to anything because of Him!

The text concludes by saying yet another powerful statement: "I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency!" Wow! God has granted you an opportunity and a blessing to be self-sufficient in Him! You don't have to be sufficient in man's eyes, but be sufficient in God's eyes and He'll turn the heart of man around! When you off to do something for the Lord, believe in the confidence, the "swag" He has given you, and know that NO ONE dictates your sufficiency. God through His Son Jesus Christ, dictates your sufficiency! He lets you know on today, when He has empowered you, that you are self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency!

In closing, Buster Douglas was definitely the longest shot to win the heavyweight crown, but because of his self-belief, he did it! There are many of you on today that God has blessed knockout power in! Today, He calls for you to put up your dukes and deliver the knockout blow to the enemy! He says this through His Apostle Paul by letting you and I know that we possess the strength for all things in Christ who empowers us. If you believe that on today, stop moping and groping and go get what's yours! Through Christ and His power, whatever "it" is, YOU CAN DO IT!