As I looked at my prayer list this morning, I felt overwhelmed. The needs are so great, and some of the situations seem absolutely impossible. Some are evil. Some are hurtful. Some are heart-wrenching. Many are beyond human help.

While feeling overwhelmed, I began singing this old chorus:

Got any rivers you think are uncrossable?
Got any mountains you can’t tunnel through?
God specializes in things thought impossible,
And He will do what no other power can do.

Faith and prayer make the impossible possible, even when our faith is the size of a mustard seed. There are times the process can crawl at a snail’s pace, but that does not change the fact that we serve the God who makes the impossible possible.

Are you facing something impossible today? Sing your faith! Speak His word aloud!  Remember whose child you are. It “ain’t” over until He has the final word!  Marvelous things happen when the impossible meets the God of the possible.

Rather than being overwhelmed by life, I choose to be overwhelmed by God!

“God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). “We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us” (Romans 8:37).

I am an introvert! Yep! I am definitely an introvert. On top of that, I’m a shy introvert. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not true that all introverts are shy.

When I was in my thirties, God called me to teach His word, and spoke to my spirit that I would teach in many places. I immediately explained to God how that would never work. “God, I am an introvert who is afraid to stand in front of people. As a matter of fact, I can barely say hello to people.”  I was afraid – afraid that I could not do it!

In scripture is the story of a young woman who was afraid when God spoke His will to her. We know her as Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Mary was encountered by an angel, who revealed God’s plan for her life. Mary was told that she would bear a child, who would be formed supernaturally in her womb, and that child would be the Son of God, and the Savior of the world. Yikes!

Mary had several steps when responding to the seemingly impossible thing God was asking.

1. She had an emotional response of fear. We know this because the angel told her not to be afraid.
2. Mary saw God’s will as impossible. She said, “I don’t see how this can happen.”
3. Mary surrendered her human understanding to faith in the Word of God. She said, “Be it unto me according to the Word of God.”
4. Mary submitted to the will of God, and began to walk in His will for her life. Her yielded life brought about something being supernaturally birthed through her.

These are often the same things we experience as we walk with God. It is not unusual, nor sinful, to experience some human fear as we encounter the will of God. We often look at ourselves, and say I don’t see how the things of God are possible in my life. The next two steps are incredibly important: We must say, be it unto me according to Your Word. Whatever you are speaking, God, I’m all in! Then, we begin to walk out the will of God in our lives. This brings about supernatural things being birthed through us. The God, for whom nothing is impossible, does supernatural things through people who can’t do it on their own.

God calls us to a life that we cannot live in our own ability, strength and power. The only reason that we can surrender our all to Him is because of the presence, the power and the anointing of the Holy Spirit in our lives as Christians.

Here I am thirty years later, and I have traveled from coast to coast, border to border, and to foreign countries teaching the Word of God. I am amazed at the doors God has opened to me. As I stand on platforms teaching the Word of God, I am anything but shy and introverted. Like Mary, I said, how is this possible?  It is possible through the life-changing, power-equipping Holy Spirit of God.

What impossible thing are you facing?  By faith verbalize to God, “Be it unto me according to Thy Word!”  I am so glad I did!

“And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” – Luke 1:38

Andrew, my twenty-two month old grandson is a hoot! He is so excited about life, and is so much fun.

While visiting our home, Andrew was down in floor playing with Papa Benton. Papa began to sneeze, and he sneezed multiple times. After each sneeze Andrew said, “Bwess you.” Andrew wanted Papa to be blessed! A few minutes later, Andrew himself sneezed, to which he said to himself, “Bwess you.”  Andrew didn’t just want Papa blessed; Andrew wanted to be blessed.

Actually, Andrew had it right. We should be people who desire to bless others, but we should also be people who are not afraid to ask for blessing on our own lives. His blessing adds influence to my life and allows me to bless others.

We should feel comfortable to ask our Heavenly Father to bless us. If we take a look at the prayer list of most Christians, it would probably include asking God to heal the sick, touch the brokenhearted, transform the hearts of sinners, be with governmental leaders, bless our local church, bless our children, send revival, and be with those who are struggling.

Praying for others is good thing, a necessary thing. It helps to keep us from focusing totally on ourselves. Yet, asking for God’s blessing for ourselves should also be a significant part of our prayer lives. With His blessing on me, I have much blessing to give to others.

I need God’s blessings on my life. Without His blessing I can never fulfill all that is in my heart. I am in need of the blessing of God on my emotions, my finances, my gifts, my thoughts and every area of my life. I want God to bless me. This shows my dependency on Him, and shows that I recognize that God cares about me and the God-given desires of my heart.

Why not sit down and write or rewrite your prayer list. Include all the names and situations that need God’s blessings and His touch. Andrew threw a lot of “bwessings” out to Papa. On your list also include your name.  Andrew also “bwessed” himself.

God, I ask that you would bless me!

“The man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” – Genesis 32:26

“Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.” – 1 Chronicles 4:10

I am not a fan … but that has nothing to do with anything.

As I sat in the church service this past Sunday, I looked around and reminisced how much church services had changed over the years. I paused to thank God that I did not allow myself to get stuck in a time warp where “church” is concerned.

There were a lot of things going on in that church service that were different from the way things used to be. Quite frankly, some of them are not things of which I am a fan.

I am not a fan of:

• Bright flashing lights and the “holy smoke” machine
• Loud music, with a hymn rarely being sung.
• The coffee bar, especially being opened while the service is in progress.
• Shorts and tees for attire.

Nope, I’m not a fan, but that has nothing to do with anything!

I am in a church that has all of the above and then some. As an older woman, I could spend a lot of my time disdaining what is happening in church today! Bring back the good old days!

Actually, all the above things are matters of preference, not matters that make an eternal difference in lives. It’s easy to get stuck in time, and not be open to what God is doing NOW. I am not talking about changing the truth of scripture. The Word is unchangeable. What people wear and sing can change.

As I looked around my church home, I saw hands lifted in praise to God. I saw lots of young people and young families very involved in greeting, parking, nursery, kid ministry, worship leading, ushering and a host of other things. I watched people give their lives to Christ at the end of the service. Those are things of which I am a HUGE fan!

Let’s be careful about bad attitudes. One must be cautious not to become joyless and critical.

Yep, I miss some of the things from the good old days, but I want to be in what God is doing right now! I don’t want to be so stuck in yesterday that I can’t move forward as the Holy Spirit speaks and moves in new ways. I don’t want to become an old wineskin that cannot receive the fresh wine of what God is doing right now. I want to draw near to the heart of God and join Him in the new thing(s) He is doing.

It’s simply not about being a fan.

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” – Isaiah 43:19