The impossible

“Ask GOD for the impossible, so you can be sure that it was GOD who did it and not you”.

Imagine having that option?  

A lot of people would like to have that option every now and then, to be able to ask GOD for something out of the ordinary; A new car, a new house, a new job, perhaps even a miraculous healing.  But if you only have one wish, what would it be?

I recently found myself in that situation. Every year, on the second month of January, our church elders declare the annual 7-day fast. While this is not mandatory, the majority of the members of Victory Christian fellowship actively participate in it.

Long before I joined VCF, I considered my dining requirements, non-negotiable! I often pointed out that all true Beltrans are genetically engineered in such a way that they must be fed on a fixed schedule or their nutritional deficiency will result in a serious character melt down and possible discomfort to people in the immediate area.

Fasting to me was an unpleasant requirement only justified and made unavoidable by medical requirements such as blood tests and surgery. A 12-hour fast was already a major sacrifice for me, but what about a 7-day or 168 hour fast?

The trick I learned was not to dive into the deep end. My friend suggested trying a 3- day fast first and note down all my observations about the experience. Before this he also suggested to read on two things: why people fast and what they actually get from fasting. That was never a problem since we had several churches all over the country with veterans of 7-day fasts.

From four or five years experience, the first reason many willingly join the annual fast in January is to get rid of the fat and the weight they put on during the Christmas Holidays. Some even start their weight loss program with the fast because if you have enough discipline not to eat for 7 days or go with just one meal, chances are all the rest of the exercises and sacrifice of losing weight will be easy.

As expected, a number of people go on the 7 day fast because they need serious help, and experience shows us that most of them do get help in one form or another. These are the people desperate because of an illness, in financial straits, undergoing some serious emotional trauma or desperately in need of a job or a place to stay.

Then there’s the other half.

These are people in pursuit of GOD, his will, and want to move forward for the year or the next level. They are the people who don’t want to be just in their comfort zone but seeking out their destiny, assignment or mission.

A few radical people are there because just like kids at the park, they want to see an awesome display of GOD’s work or revelation for their lives.

Through the years, I have seen countless prayers answered. From physical restoration to restoration of family ties to financial recovery etc., But this year was rather different, I found myself sitting at the park wondering what demonstration GOD would be performing.

With very little fanfare the words came to me: Only by asking GOD for the impossible will you know that it is GOD at work.

I reflected on that for several days but I honestly could not think of some pressing need that was so “impossible” only GOD could perform it. I even thanked GOD for bringing me to a level of “contentment” unlike past years where I always had a wish list.

Last night GOD must have figured that I needed help. I was so focused on “Me”. We automatically assume that when GOD tells us to ask him, that it’s always for us and about us. Yes I was, by GOD’s grace, quite content, but he wanted me to ask for others who find themselves in impossible situations.

I needed to ask GOD for the impossible; that he would heal my “Tita Rina” from her breast and lung cancer.  I needed to ask GOD to provide for someone in a foreign land, who had no fixed income and no place of her own in a country where the economy is walking on a tight rope.

I needed to ask GOD to bring miracles to Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and Compostela valley at a time when help and donations are beginning to wane and where political bickering has started to set in.

After teaching me the lesson about; “Others before ourselves,” the next lesson came in the form of a reminder. “In Him,” in GOD all things are possible. What we call miracles are just part of his daily work. So go ahead and ask GOD for the impossible, because it is possible.

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