“You can do anything you set your mind to.”
What’s wrong with this common phrase we hear from family members, friends, and coworkers? (Other than the fact that sentences should not end with the infinitive?)
This statement is full of hope—false hope. Even though it promises a sunny tomorrow, it’s simply a lie that society tells us. (We’ve talked about those lies, and they always leave us feeling empty—including this lie.)
This statement is a clear contradiction to one of the most commonly quoted verses:
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13 NASB)
We are nothing, but Christ is everything. It’s sad that so many Christians fall for the lie that we can do anything in our own strength. Our strength is failing, and our minds are depraved.
With God, we can do anything.
When we set our mind to accomplish a task, if it is God’s will, that task will be completed. Have no doubt about that. The Israelites set their minds to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and they did it. They were doing God’s will, and He was with them through the whole process.
So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. (Nehemiah 4:6 NASB)
When we tell kids they can do anything, we’re setting them up to fail. They’ll believe they can fly if they think about it hard enough. They’ll believe they can be Superman if only they put on a cape. But those guarantees are empty.
Kids need to be told that the One who saved them has all the power. We don’t have the strength to do anything, but we serve a God who does.
Sure, we can accomplish tasks without God. People around the world build skyscrapers, find cures for diseases, and win battles against their enemies. They’ve done things that seemed impossible. After all, every sports movie has an underdog story.
But only God gave them the ability to do those things.
We do need determination. A job won’t get done without a little perseverance. But it also won’t get done without God’s grace and power.
You can set your mind to a task, but you should really set your mind on the Savior. He’s great at doing the impossible.
Tizzie's Tidbits of Truth 