I can do this!

A friend of mine has a young child who usually cries for a short time when being dropped off in Sunday School. Recently she had told the child who is barely 3 years old that "he is a big boy now and there is no reason for you to cry when we go to Sunday School."

When they entered the room the child placed his hands on each side of his head and said very dramatically, "I can do this. I can do this. I can do this."

So, what happened? He can do this!! He did great and hasn't cried since. (Well, at least not when being dropped off at Sunday School.)

When he was given a positive message from someone he trusts, he believed it. Also, he repeated this "message" to himself and outloud to remind himself and others.

God gives us promises throughout His Word, the Bible. He is saying to us that we can do this...together. I have heard countless stories of people in troubling times being comforted by Scripture that they read or had memorized and repeated in their time of need.

God promises to be with us in the good times and bad.
God promises to be with us through this life on earth and eternity in heaven.
God promises to be the same yesterday, today and forever.

Yes, God makes promises to us, but how often do we make promises to others that we do not keep?

I challenge you:

• If you tell someone that you will pray for them...pray for them.


• If you see someone in need, make every attempt to meet that need.


• If you know of a concern, call the person & express you compassion for them.


• Here is a tricky one. If you know of a sin in someone's life. Pray for God to burden them to the point of repentence, but love them through it all.

Be a positive influence to others.
Remind them of what they can do.
Commend people on good things they have done.
Remember the wise words of Thumper, "If you can't say somethin' nice, don't say nuttin' at all."
Which was stated by Paul in Ephesians 4:29 as "Let no unwholesome words come from your mouth."