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CAN'T OR WON'T
This article was posted on Tuesday, July 15, 2008
No offense, but some of you don’t have any business reading this today. Normally I (Chuck Swindoll) do not restrict my words to any group of people. But now I must. This time it is for Christians only! Everything I write from now to the end of this reading on excuses is strictly for the believer in Christ. If you’re not there yet, you can skip on to the next page, because you lack a major ingredient: the power of God. Non-Christians are simply unable to choose righteous paths consistently. That divine response upon which the Christian (and must) draw is not at the unbeliever’s disposal. That is, not until personal faith in Jesus Christ is expressed. This is one of those now-not-later issues that’s limited to believers only.
Now then, if you know the Lord, you are the recipient of limitless ability… incredible strength. Just read a few familiar lines out of the book, slowly for a change:
Philippians 4:13- “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”
Ephesians 3:14,16- “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father… that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His spirit in the inner man.”
2 Peter 1:4 – He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might be partakers of the divine nature………..
And one more:
1 Corinthians 10:13- “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.”
Wait a minute now. Did you read every word – or did you skip a line or two? If so, please go back and slowly graze over those those five statements written for you, a Christian, It’s really important.
Okay, what thought stands out the most? Well, if someone asks me that question, I’d say, “Special strength or an unusual ability from God.” in these verses it’s called several things: strength, power, divine nature, ability. God has somehow placed into the Christian’s inside a little something , that extra inner reservoir of power that is more than a match for the stuff life throws at us. When in operation, phenomenal accomplishments are achieved, sometimes even, miraculous.
Let’s get specific.
It boils down to the choice of two common words in our vocabulary. Little words, but, oh so different. Can’t and won’t. Christians need to be very careful which one they choose. It seems that we prefer to use can’t.
“I just can’t get along with my wife.”
“My husband and I can’t communicate.”
“I can’t discipline the kids like I should.”
“I just can’t give up the affair I am having.”
“I Can’t stop overeating.”
“I can’t find the time to pray.”
“I can’t stop gossiping.”
No, any Christians who takes seriously those five passages we just looked at (there are dozens more) will have to confess the word really should be won’t. Why? Because we have been given the power, the ability to overcome. Literally! And therein lies hope in hoisting anchors that otherwise will hold us in the muck and mire of blame and self-pity.
One of the best books you can read this year on overcoming depression is a splendid book written by two physicians, Minirth and Meier. The volume is appropriately entitled HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE. These men agree that:
As psychiatrists, we cringe whenever (Christians) patients use the word can’t …..
Any good psychiatrist knows that “I can’t and I tried” are merely lame excuses. We insist that the patients be honest with themselves and use language that expresses the reality of the situation. So we have our patients change their can’ts to won’ts.
If an individual changes all his can’t to won’ts, he stops avoiding the truth, quits deceiving himself and starts living in reality.
“I just won’t get along with my wife.”
“My husband and I won’t communicate.”
“I won’t discipline the kids like I should.”
“I just won’t give up the affair I am having.”
“I won’t stop overeating.”
“I won’t find the time to pray.”
“I won’t stop gossiping.”
Non- Christians have every right and reason to use can’t because they really can’t! they are victims, trapped, and bound like slaves in a fierce and endless struggle. Without Christ and His power, they lack what it takes to change permanently. They don’t because they can’t! it is a fact…… a valid excuse.
But people like us? hey, let’s face it. We don’t because we won’t …… we disobey because we want to, not because we have to …… because we choose to, not because we’re forced to. The sooner we are willing to own up realistically to our responsibility and stop playing the blame game at pity parties for ourselves, the more we’ll learn and change, and the less we’ll burn and blame.
Wish I could find a less offensive way to communicate all this, but I just can’t!
Oops!
COME ASIDE:
If there’s won’t in your life that you’ve been calling a “can’t” talk it over now with God. Use any or all of these short passages to help you find God’s perspective as you pray.
Psalms 105:4
Isaiah 43:18-19
Habakkuk 3:19
Hebrews 10: 35-39
(Dr. Charles Swindoll)
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