8 keys to making the Impossible Dream possibleGOD'S
ECONOMICS
(The
Biblical
Principles of True
Prosperity)
One of my fine wife Bev’s favorite songs is “The Impossible Dream,” from the Man
of La Mancha. Recently, I was searching for just the right rendition of this
fabulous song to place on Bev’s assorted electronics iPad, Android phone, etc.
The lyrics to “The Impossible Dream” are absolute genius. I was inspired as
I listen to artist-after-artist sing these powerful words.
To dream ... the impossible dream ...
To fight ... the unbeatable foe ...
To bear ... with unbearable sorrow ...
To run ... where the brave dare not go ...
To right ... the unrightable wrong ...
To love ... pure and chaste from afar ...
To try ... when your arms are too weary ...
To reach ... the unreachable star ...
This is my quest, to follow that star ...
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far ...
To fight for the right, without question or pause ...
To be willing to march into Hell, for a Heavenly cause ...
As a result of my heavenly stirring, God showed me eight ways to make your
impossible dreams, possible. Let’s look at the lyrics. . .with a little
different perspective.
1. To dream ... the impossible dream ...of being debt-free.
You need to realize that being debt free is not an impossible dream for one
simple reason. With God, nothing is impossible. Luke 1:37 in the Amplified Bible
says: “For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be
without power or impossible of fulfillment.” There is one thing that is
impossible. . .it’s to please God without faith.
Hebrews 11:6 in the Amplified Bible says: “But without faith it is
impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to
God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of
those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].” With God and your faith
energized. . .there is nothing impossible to you. . .including being step free
from the bondage of debt.
2. To fight ... the unbeatable foe ...of payments and high interest rates.
The scriptures are replete with stories of people defeating their enemies
despite overwhelming odds. Goliath was pictured an as unbeatable foe, until
David picked up a smooth stone from the brook. One million Ethiopian soldiers
seemed an unbeatable foe, until King Asa prayed and God gave his people a great
victory. Some of you are facing what you may feel to be overwhelming odds, but
you need to know that the battle is not yours, it’s the Lords (2 Chronicles
20:15).
When the bills keep piling up, the creditors keep calling or there just
doesn’t seem to be enough money to cover all your bills…remember that you’re not
in the battle alone. When you put your confidence in the Lord, claim His
promises, confess His Word, and manifest the God kind of faith, then victory is
at hand. Be encouraged by the story of King Asa who put all his confidence in
the Lord God. Read 2 Chronicles 14:1-12 to realize with God’s help there is not
unbeatable foe.
3. To bear ... with unbearable sorrow ...of never having enough.
First, let’s establish that with God, everything is bearable though it may
not necessarily be desirable. Second, sorrow is telling those you love they
can’t do what they’d love to do because there is no money to do it.
I remember in elementary school when someone from the county school board came
by our school to determine our interests in playing musical instruments. I fell
in love with the saxophone but knew such an expensive item was not in our family
budget, so I downplayed my interest to my parents.
The key to bearing the unbearable is found in 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 in the
Contemporary English Version which says: “My friends, I want you to know what a
hard time we had in Asia. Our sufferings were so horrible and so unbearable that
death seemed certain. “In fact, we felt sure that we were going to die. But this
made us stop trusting in ourselves and start trusting God, who raises the dead
to life:” The unbearable is made bearable when you stop trusting in yourself and
begin trusting in God.
4 To run ... where the brave dare not go ...saying no to seductive
advertising. First, let’s establish the facts. Spending money you don’t have
will not ease the pain of loneliness or rejection. It will not cause you to
suddenly measure up or meet any other inward need. Only trusting in God and His
Word can bring the changes necessary for that kind of peace and well-being.
Second, if you have a problem or challenge not to spend money when you go
window shopping or to the mall, then my advice to you is simple. . .STAY HOME.
You have to be careful of shopping at home, too. Make a definite commitment to
immediately take those unsolicited catalogues from your mailbox to the recycle.
Those same tactics to get you into debt have now moved into television and
the internet. Don’t use the shopping channels for entertainment and unsubscribe
to email solicitations from merchandisers. Don’t give any place to addictions.
Even addicts know they must never put themselves in a place of temptation. Do
you think it’s wise for an alcoholic to visit a bar? Is it smart for a drug
addict to stop by the homes of his friends on drugs?
The scripture says, AVOID temptation. Jesus was continually warning His
disciples about temptation. Matthew 26:40 in the Message Bible says: “When he
came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, "Can't
you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don't
wander into temptation without even knowing you're in danger. There is a part of
you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there's another part that's as
lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire."
Third, if you must go to the mall, focus what I call my shopping scripture.
Proverbs 4:25 in The Amplified Bible says: “Let your eyes look right on [with
fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you.” Keep your eyes
focused on your objective. Do not window shop. . .do not walk toward the
rooty-tooty, fresh and fruity blue light special sale.
Keep your eyes on your target, even after you arrive at your destination.
Do not stop at the 40% off display that’s on the walkway through the store. The
problem is if you stop to look at it, touch it, smell it and try it on, you may
not buy it today. . .but you’re feeding the wrong thing inside of you . . .
impulsive spending.
Matthew 6:13 says: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
5 . To right ... the unrightable wrong...of mishandling God’s money.
First, you must understand the money in your pocket, wallet, retirement or
investment account is not your money. I could give you dozens of scriptures but
I’ll give you one. Psalm 24:1 in the New Living Translation says: “The earth is
the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.”
Second, if you’ve messed up. . .made mistakes in your stewardship of all that
God has entrusted to you. . .then ask for forgiveness and start again. Nehemiah
9:17 in the Contemporary English Version says:
“But, our God, you are merciful and quick to forgive; you are loving, kind, and
very patient. So you never turned away from them.”
To receive forgiveness for your bad financial mistakes, just ask for His
forgiveness. The very good thing is that not only does He forgive. . .He forgets
as well. Everything belongs to God and we’re just stewards of all He has
entrusted to us. Third, don’t make the same mistakes again. Before making a
major purchase, ask God if it’s a part of His plan for your life and calling.
Never buy anything without asking Him first. . .that’s the best way to avoid
handling His money in the wrong way.
6. To love ... pure and chaste from afar ...never failing prey to the love of
money.
1Timothy 6:10 is without question one of the most misquoted, misused and
misunderstood verse of scripture in the Bible. Here’s what the verse says: “For
the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they
have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many
sorrows.”
It’s not money that’s evil but the love of money that’s the root of all
evil.
Here’s a fact. . .you don’t have to have money to love it. Over the years, I’ve
talked to dozens of people who were broke but loved money. Money itself is
neutral. . .it’s not good or bad. Money is a magnifier. . .it will magnify the
character of the person who has it or wants to have it. Money will not change
your character. . .it will merely reflect what’s inside of you by what you spend
it on.
P.T. Barnum, of Barnum and Bailey Circus fame and one of the greatest
promoters who ever lived, made two powerful statements in his life. He said,
“There’s a sucker born every minute.” Barnum also said, “Money is an excellent
servant but a terrible master.” I think Barnum understood money. Money itself is
neither good nor evil. It has the ability to do only what its owner wants it to
do. The owner is in charge.
Money simply manifests what is in its owner’s heart.
7. To try ... when your arms are too weary ...no matter how seemingly
hopeless.
To be hopeless, you must be living with the absence of hope. The purpose of
sin is to separate us from the love God has for us . . . to make us feel all
alone and hopeless in the situations of life. But the very good news is that. .
.Romans 8:32 in the New Living Translation says: “Neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about
tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” If we
can’t be separated from God’s love. . .and we can’t. . .there is always hope
regardless of what we’ve gone through or are going through. Zechariah 9:11 in
the Message Bible: “And you, because of my blood covenant with you, I'll release
your prisoners from their hopeless cells. Come home, hope-filled prisoners! This
very day I'm declaring a double bonus— everything you lost returned twice-over.
. ." Can somebody shout Hallelujah?
One final thought. . .I’m always blessed by this quote from Anonymous (whoever
he or she may be.) “A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what
seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success.”
8. To reach ... the unreachable star ... of having more than enough.
Having more than enough is NOT an unreachable star because there are at
least thirty verses in the scripture where God confirms His desire. . .His plan
for us to have more than enough. Here are a few of them. . .to encourage you in
your most holy quest. 2 Corinthians 9:8 in the Contemporary English Version
says: “God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more
than enough to do all kinds of good things for others.” When you prove yourself
faithful with what you’ve been given, you will have more than enough. 2
Corinthians 9:8 in the Contemporary English Version says: “God can bless you
with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all
kinds of good things for others.”
Even when times are tough all around you. . .God has promised you will have more
than enough. Psalm 37:19 in the New Living Translation says: “They will not be
disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough.” The
unreachable becomes reachable when you make the effort to bring it to pass.
Proverbs 13:4 in the Contemporary English Version says:
“No matter how much you want, laziness won't help a bit, but hard work will
reward you with more than enough.”
Here is the chorus for “The Impossible Dream” with my spiritual application of
its principles.
This is my quest, to follow that star ...of God’s promises.
When it comes to the promises of God. . .here are seven things you need to know.
First, God doesn’t lie.
Second, God doesn’t change his mind.
Third, God is no respecter of persons.
Fourth, God wouldn’t promise you something if He didn’t think you could achieve
it.
Fifth, God is right by your side. . .fighting with you every step of the way.
Six, God takes pleasure in your prosperity.
Seven, God gave you the Holy Spirit to empower you.
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far ... or my present situation.
We go through seasons in our lives. . .truthfully, at times we don’t understand
why we’re facing so many problems. We expect our deliverance to come one way. .
.but it comes in a totally different manner.
Consider the seasons of the life of Moses.
For the first forty years of his life. . .Moses was somebody. He lived in
royalty.
For the next forty years of his life. . .Moses was a nobody. . .stuck on the
backside of the desert tending somebody else’s sheep. . .and no doubt
remembering what was and what might have been.
For the final forty years of his life. . .Moses was God’s body. Our greatest
usefulness in the Kingdom. . .the defining moment of our lives. . .will come
quickly and often in a way in which we least expect it.
Your present situation is not and will never be hopeless. . .as long as our
great God Jehovah sits on the throne.
To fight for the right, without question or pause ...To be willing to march into
Hell, for a Heavenly cause ... manifesting His promises.
I can’t think of a better Heavenly cause then teaching God’s children how to
manifest His precious promises into their lives and the lives of others.
He enables and empowers us to make the impossible dream. . .our quest. . .a
reality.
Dictionary.com defines quest as:
“a search or pursuit made in order to find or obtain something.”
As I’ve meditated on God’s Financial Quest. . .it came to me that every quest
should begin with questions.
Proverbs 2:2 in the Amplified Bible says:
“Making your ear attentive to skillful and godly Wisdom and inclining and
directing your heart and mind to understanding [applying all your powers to the
quest for it].”
I find it interesting and not the least coincidental the word quest forms the
majority of the word question. We gain knowledge by listening and asking the
right questions.
1 Corinthians 14:1 in the Amplified Bible say
“EAGERLY PURSUE and seek to acquire [this] love [make it your aim, your great
quest]; and earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual endowments (gifts),
especially that you may prophesy (interpret the divine will and purpose in
inspired preaching and teaching).”
Child of God, you’re on a noble quest. . .with God’s instructions and assistance
your impossible dream. . .just became possible.
Rich Thoughts - H. Herring
