As a believer in Jesus Christ for more than 20 years, I have learned that some things in life are impossible with men, but with God, all things are possible as stated in Mark 10:27.  Additionally, I have learned that with God I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me as stated in Philippians 4:13.  These two truths are paramount to my faith as I dream big in God and consider the make it happen possibilities of my faith in this new year.  To me, these Scripture verses are huge because they convey the powerful truth that with God I can do anything in Christ that He has called me to do in the power and might of His strength to make it happen in faith this year and each year of my life.  Furthermore, as born-again children of the Living God, I believe we can each make it happen in faith because God is with us and His Word is true.  Therefore, as you dream big in God this new year and consider the make it happen possibilities of actually living your life in faith with Him each day, I pray that the following 5 reasons we can make it happen in faith will engage you at a new level of faith and hope in Christ this year:

Faith Reason #1: God has given us a future, a hope, and a God-ordained destiny to live in faith with Him each day of our lives

  • I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
  • For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)
  • Before I [the Lord] formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5)
  • Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! (Psalms 139:16-17)
  • Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Luke 12:6-7)
  • But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)
  • The smallest of them will become a family. The weakest of them will become a mighty nation. At the right time I, the Lord, will make it happen quickly. (Isaiah 60:22 from GOD’S WORD translation)

Faith Reason #2: God has given us gifts and talents to do good works that glorify Him on earth

  •  Then God blessed them, and God said to them,”Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it.” (Genesis 1:28)
  • Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
  • “Most assuredly, I [Jesus] say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. (John 14:12)
  • For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)
  • “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’  His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”  Matthew 25:20-21
  • But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:25)
  • You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. (James 2:24)
  • Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. (Psalms 37:5)
  • The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. (Daniel 11:32)

Faith Reason #3: God has given us His Holy Spirit to lead us, teach us, and strengthen us in our faith

  • And I [Jesus] will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17)
  • But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I [Jesus] said to you. (John 14:26)
  • You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
  • Have I [the Lord] not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)
  • [It’s] ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)
  • The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. (Psalm 34:7)
  • Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ (Isaiah 41:10)

Faith Reason #4: God has given us overcoming victory in Him to be more than conquerors in Christ

  • What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)
  • Thus says the Lord to you: “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” (2 Chronicles 20:15)
  • No weapon formed against you shall prosper. (Isaiah 54:17)
  • For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)
  • The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. (Deuteronomy 28:7)
  • So he answered,”Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” (2 Kings 6:16)
  • For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield. (Psalms 5:12)
  • The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. (Proverbs 18:10)
  • We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)
  • Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (Romans 8:37)
  • For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. (1 John 5:4)

Faith Reason #5: God has given us His Word and His authority to make it happen in faith and build His kingdom on earth

  •  And I [Jesus] will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19)
  • Again I [Jesus] say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. (Matthew 18:19)
  • For assuredly, I [Jesus] say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  (Mark 11:23)
  • Behold, I [Jesus] give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luke 10:19)
  • Your Word [God’s Word] is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. (Psalms 119:105)
  • For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. (2 Corinthians 1:20)
  • God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19)

As children of God, surrendered to the Lordship of Christ, fully equipped with the promises of God’s Word and the free gift of His Holy Spirit living inside of us, there is no reason to believe that we cannot dream big in God and make it happen in faith with Him.  In fact, every day that we allow a spirit of can’t to speak into our lives, we give the devil access to steal, kill, and destroy our everyday victory that already belongs to us through overcoming faith in Jesus Christ.  Therefore, please join me in dreaming big in God this year and believing that we can make it happen in faith with Him each day of our lives as make-it-happen people fully equipped with His Word and fully empowered by His Holy Spirit to build His kingdom on earth.

Thank you and have a blessed make-it-happen New Year!

Question:  What is holding you back from dreaming big in God this year and believing that you can make it happen in faith with Him to build His kingdom on earth in your sphere of influence?

5 Reasons We Can Make It Happen In Faith Copyright 2010, The Make It Happen Learning Institute.  You have permission to reprint the leadership article, 5 Reasons We Can Make It Happen In Faith, in its entirety only, and forward to your colleagues and friends, provided the copyright notice remains part of the reprint and transmission.  All other rights reserved.