Don’t Let Your Brain Hold You Back: Open the Door to Possible

The New Year is filled with possibilities!

You guessed it! New adventures and new opportunities to experience the goodness of the Lord await your discovery. Possibilities. Isn’t that an exciting word?!

But did you know your brain may feel skeptical or even nervous about the unknown dimension of possibilities? If so, it will cause you to avoid Doors of Possibility.

“Possible” is the Biblical word, dynatós, derived from the word “to be able”; it means possible, powerful, capable. It’s a good word to include in our vocabulary, for it helps us to embrace the life of Christ.

How Your Brain Limits You

You won’t believe what science has discovered. Your brain in its effort to help you, also limits you by giving false counsel.

Your brain automatically defaults to the impossible, to a negative mindset telling you what is wrong, impractical, or won’t work. Did you know the words your brain repeatedly hears – reinforce either possibilities or impossibilities? What you say determines if you view life as an adventure filled with possibilities or only see negatives you need to avoid at all costs.

Jesus was never ruled by His brain. With intention, He turned His back on a negative mindset, preferring to embrace the potential of possibilities.

He used the word possible when He spoke of difficult circumstances. To Him, possible was a door creating the potential to receive strength and courage to face struggles and difficulties. Jesus exemplified Possibility during the most pivotal point of His life. Facing the agony of Calvary, overwhelmed with anguish and fear for what lay ahead, He cried out, “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto You. Take this cup away from me.” (Mark 14:36)

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says dynatós (possible) refers to having the strength “to bear calamities and trials with fortitude and patience; to be firm in conviction and faith.” Jesus knew what was impossible for Him as a man was possible with God, trusting His Father to sustain and strengthen Him. 

Here’s the bottom line. Jesus chose the Door to Possible, knowing it led to Calvary. The amazing thing is He loved God and you, more than He loved being safe. Scripture teaches He prayed three times for God to deliver Him from suffering. But each time, He ended His prayer, “Not my will but Thine.”

4 Ways Jesus Is Our Example to Embrace the Possible

1. Jesus stood on the foundation that “With God, all things are possible” (Mat 19:26b). He accepted His limitations as a man; refusing to lean on His own wisdom or strength or desires, He chose to believe God is good, and became a conduit for the Holy Spirit to flow through Him. In the face of trauma, He stood strong in the power of God’s might.

2. Jesus understood the brain needs to hear truth spoken before it accepts it as truth. He didn’t just think the word possible. He spoke it! Possible! He verbalized it to Himself, His disciples, and back to His Heavenly Father. Scripture records His words as a redirection of focus from man’s inability to God’s strength.

3. By faith, Jesus focused on His Father, not on His circumstances. To the heartbroken man facing the fact his son might never be healed and delivered from demons, He said, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes.” (Mar 9:23)

4. Jesus walked through the Door of Possibility motivated by love and joy, anticipating the wonderful things God would do despite the suffering He might face. Jesus was born to die, not to rule and reign. We read, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb 12:2)

The Joy of the Possible

The Door of Possibilities often opens onto the field of conflict, distress, suffering, and difficulties. Jesus is our example. He rejected the door to pleasure, success, riches, fame, and comfort. Knowing the cost, with joy, He chose the Door of Possible, looking forward to the blessing and eternal joy of bringing many sons and daughters to glory.

There’s just one problem. Today, we in the Church tend to feel entitled and privileged, believing everything will go the way we want it because the Holy Spirit dwells within us. My dear friend, Jesus could not be resurrected and bring life to others until He went through the Door of Possible into the dark valley.

The solution is simple; you and I are called to die to the flesh. Only as we walk through that Door of Possibility to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, will we experience His resurrection life.

Make this a New Year Filled With Possibilities!

As life happens, daily choose to open the Door to Possible with your hand in the hand of Jesus. Embrace and celebrate the Possible; it will enrich your life and lead to wonderful lessons and blessings.

There’s wonderful news. Learning to discern and delight in the Possible makes you stronger and more like Jesus, resulting in sweet fellowship with the Spirit of Christ. And one day, you will hear the Father say, “Well done good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your Lord.”