Can’t is a powerful word. It stops people, often before they even begin. It’s an idea that get’s passed around pretty freely, is rarely challenged, and too often sets the course of our lives. Personally, I have come to dislike the word or others similar to it (i.e. have to, impossible). It grates on me when people say it and it really bothers me when I hear it come out of my own mouth. That’s because can’t is the opposite of what God says. Scripture says that, “all things are possible to him who believes” and “the things that are impossible with men are possible with God.” If God thinks we can, then I choose to say what He says.
This truth goes for my own life, but also for others. That God has put inside of people I don’t know or have any control over have the ability to do great things, in short that they ‘can’. While we usually will fight the battle for belief in our own lives, we often give up quickly when it comes to believing in others. Recognizing your attitudes and behaviors concerning this fundamental topic of ability is important as how you feel about it will determine much about your ministry. If you don’t believe you can, then you won’t even try. If you believe you can but other people can’t then you will set yourself up as the central figure in your ministry and look for ways to replace people, or if you believe that people can you will work to equip them for works of ministry.
A fundamental part of being a teacher or leader is to believe that it is possible for the people to do what you’re giving instruction for. This is a simple but powerful tool you must hold on to as you navigate the crowded worship training and product space, because far too many worship products and services are based on the belief that you or your team can’t and never will. That you can’t learn how to recruit and develop people to your team, that you will never be able to play at high level, that it’s not even possible to be excellent at getting people, even visitors, to participate in worship, or that you can do any number of other things that are, in fact, completely within the realm of possibility if you will believe that it is possible.
While your belief alone doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s going to happen right away, though many times God does impart ability through faith. It will, however and most importantly, open the door to the journey to get there. There is an old saying that goes, “Can’t never could.” I take that to mean that if you don’t believe you can, you never will. You won’t even try for it because in your mind it is already impossible to you. As a result you will either be stuck or begin to settle for the next best solutions which are often a far cry from what God intended.
So watch for ‘can’t’ in how you and others talk. Challenge it each time you hear it. Ask yourself, “Is that really impossible?” It might seem distant or massively challenging but call it that, don’t shut it off. Say, “that would be great but I’m not sure how we would do that” or “I’ve never seen that done but I wonder how that would work.” This mindset allows you to learn and discover things. What we have found is that many of the answers you’re looking for are right in front of you or are well within your current possession. They just don’t look like answers because of how you see the world. Believe that you can, because in Christ Jesus that is the absolute truth. YOU CAN!!!