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Episode 6
Opening Remark: How do I become a Himpossible Thinker? This is our focus today.
S.E.E.D. to Himpossible Thinking
Let me ask you a personal question. Have you ever been to prison? The truth of the matter is that I have! In fact, all of us have at one time or another. The prison I am speaking about is not the physical prison—Changi Prison in Singapore—but the mental prison, the prison of negativity where you allow negative thoughts to affect you resulting in negative or pessimistic attitudes. Consequently, your mind is always full of impossibilities. “This simply cannot be done.” Have you met people like that? I am sure you have. More importantly, are you one of them?
In this book I have introduced to you a new word, Himpossible. It is a biblical concept. This word is a mind changer that can transform your attitude and free you from the prison of negativity or pessimism. It is a word that can help you cope with life’s changing landmarks and as you encounter difficulties. It can also make you a happier person.
Let me share with you a powerful biblical text taken from the Gospel of Luke, “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37 KJV). One simple verse, yet very significant. What a powerful biblical text! It is a text worth meditating on and memorizing. To appreciate this verse or to understand the awesome power of this verse, we need to know its context or background, which has something to do with the announcement of the birth of Jesus.
The Angel Gabriel, coming from God’s presence, appeared unto Mary saying, “Greetings! You are highly favoured and the Lord is with you” (1:28). Wow! How would you feel if one day an angel appears to you and says, “You have found favour and chosen to do great works”? Would you be excited?
When the angel came to Mary and said, “You are highly favoured,” instead of singing, “Hallelujah! Praise the Lord” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered why the angel said this to her. The angel told her not to be afraid for she has found favour with God. Angel Gabriel gave her a message that had four parts:
Using her common sense, she responded, “No way!” How could it be since she was a virgin? We need to note that at this stage, Mary was only engaged but not married (1:34). Earlier on, the angel replied, “ And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus” (1:31) Then comes this amazing verse, “For nothing is impossible with God” (1:37). To put it in another way, there is nothing that God cannot do. It is as simple as that. The God of the Bible specialises in miracles and the supernatural.
When the angel made that statement, “Nothing is impossible with God,” and told her not to be afraid, she believed the angel and replied with faith, “May it be to me as you have said [according to your word (rhema); according to what you have told me]. Amen!” That day, Mary became a Himpossible Thinker. Mary took God at his word. The angel left her and the scene closes. You know the rest of the story. True enough, the miracle of virgin birth, Jesus, was born in Bethlehem.
Are you a Himpossible Thinker? Or are you an Impossible Thinker? In the Old Testament, we have examples of Himpossible Thinkers: Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Elisha, and David, to name a few. What is interesting to me in the New Testament is that the first Himpossible Thinker happens to be a woman!
Mary provides an authentic model of trust and obedience in response to God’s initiative, anticipating her later role among the disciples of Jesus (Luke 8:19–21; Acts 1:4). More significantly, Mary became the first female Himpossible Thinker in the New Testament. Three cheers to women!
Is there anything in your life that seems impossible? Are you in a situation that you do not see any light at the end of the tunnel? Aha! With God, no situation is impossible because he is the awesome and mighty God. “The God of the Virgin Birth is the God who makes all things possible.” To him, there is no such thing as impossible, no sin he can’t forgive, no broken relationship he can’t heal, and no problem can’t resolve. Indeed, “What a mighty God we serve.”
Are you willing to be like Mary who responded positively? It was not easy for Mary a young and inexperienced lady to believe such miracle was possible. Mary had faith and chose to exercise it by partnering with God. Will you choose to believe in the God of impossibilities and become a Himpossible Thinker as you journey through life?
There is one important thing to remember. You have often been told that knowledge changes people. This is only a myth because it is application of that knowledge or principle that changes people. All the knowledge of Panadol will not cure my headache if I refuse to take one. Hence, “avoid and apply” is the key to success in everything you do. As Aldous Huxley said, “The great end of life is not knowledge, but action.”
Have you heard the story of an avid duck hunter who was in the market for a new bird dog? His search ended when he found a dog that could actually walk on water to retrieve a duck.
Shocked by his find, he was sure none of his friends would ever believe him. He decided to try to break the news to a friend of his, a pessimist by nature, and invited him to hunt with him and his new dog. As they waited by the shore, a flock of ducks flew by. They fired, and a duck fell. The dog responded and jumped into the water. The dog, however, did not sink but instead walked across the water to retrieve the bird, never getting more than his paws wet. This continued all day long.
Each time a duck fell, the dog walked across the surface of the water to retrieve it. The pessimist watched carefully, saw everything, but did not say a single word. On the drive home the hunter asked his friend, “Did you notice anything unusual about my new dog?” “I sure did,” responded the pessimist. “Your dog can’t swim!”
How to Become a Himpossible Thinker
Century follows century—there it stands
Dynasty succeeds dynasty—there it stands
Empires rise and fall and are forgotten—there it stands
Kings are crowned and uncrowned—there it stands
Storms of hate swirl about it—there it stands
Atheists rail against it—there it stands
Profane, prayerless punsters caricature it—there it stands
Unbelief abandons it—there it stands
Thunderbolts of wrath smite—there it stands
The flames are kindled about it—there it stands.
The grass withers, the flower fades: but the word of our God shall stand forever.
(Isaiah 40:8)
Embrace optimism; expel pessimism. You can’t live a positive life with a negative mind.
x Determine never to give up. There is a light at the end of the tunnel because God is the God of miracles. Don’t give in when you face difficulties. Persevere and never give up because God specialises in impossibilities and does not give up on you. “It ain’t over till God says it is over.” What a powerful phrase!
A story is told of a boy who wanted to give up his studies. The father told him, “Son, don’t give up. People who are successful never give up. Look at Lady Gaga, she didn’t give up. Look at Michael Jackson, he didn’t give up. Look at Elvis Presley, he didn’t give. Look at Thomas McPringle . . .” The son interrupted his father and said, “Dad, who is Thomas McPringle?” The father smiled and said, “See? You have never heard of him. He gave up!”
These four steps spell S.E.E.D.: Saturate, Embrace, Exercise, and Determine. Lock this into your mind. Recall, reinforce, and reflect on this word when the going gets tough. You will see miracles.
Discussion Questions