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TDE JANUARY 2017 Edition

DAILY DEVOTIONAL TO ENCOURAGE AND EMPOWER YOU EACH DAY OF YOUR LIFE.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL TO ENCOURAGE AND EMPOWER YOU EACH DAY OF YOUR LIFE.

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THE DAILY ENCOURAGER<br />

THE DAILY ENCOURAGER<br />

January 30<br />

Today’s Scripture<br />

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”<br />

Philippians 4:13<br />

I Can Do All Things<br />

This is one of my favorite Scriptures but out of context, Philippians 4:13 is<br />

used as a blank check promise for whatever is desired. But in context, it<br />

is a verse about contentment. It’s not about your dreams coming true or<br />

your goals being met. Rather it’s about being joyful, satisfied, and steadfast<br />

even when life is hard and your circumstances seem impossible. It reminds<br />

me that although I may have difficulties, through Jesus Christ I have been<br />

empowered with strength for every battle that may try to defeat me.<br />

This is not a verse about being empowered to change your circumstances;<br />

rather, it is a verse about relying on God’s power in order to be content<br />

in the midst of circumstances you can’t change. When the Apostle Paul<br />

says, I can do all things through Him who strengthens me, he is speaking<br />

about contentment. In any circumstance, he had learned to be content<br />

by depending on Christ who gave him the strength to persevere in any<br />

situation.<br />

You can do all things through Christ! The fact that you have failed in<br />

achieving your dreams doesn’t mean it is over for you! You are equipped<br />

to do whatever God has called or commanded you to do! If He has put it in<br />

your heart, He will put whatever you need in your hand, and the Scriptures<br />

promises that everything you set your hand to will prosper when we<br />

depend on Christ’s strength and not when we depend on our own strength.<br />

Depending on Christ’s strength is a very freeing way to live. We can relax<br />

knowing that no matter what comes our way, He will strengthen us with<br />

the right hand of His righteousness towards good works.<br />

What is it that you can do through Christ? You can be content no matter<br />

what the situation. Whether you have plenty or he you have nothing,<br />

whether you come in first place with a gold medal or he you comes in last<br />

place, whether he makes the team or he doesn’t make the team. Whatever<br />

the circumstance, whatever he may have or not have, Paul learned to be<br />

content, to be joyful. Why? Because I can do all things through Christ who<br />

strengthens me!<br />

May you be encouraged not to achieve great victories in life, but to also find<br />

joy even in the midst of defeat.<br />

42

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