Notice the first two words of this verse: "I can." Of course, in our own strength, we are nothing, but through Christ we can do all things. But if we don't believe we can do all things through Christ, we can't. That's why we must quit saying, "I can't!" or we will rob ourselves of the strength that Jesus provided for us - strength to do what we need to do in life.
I remember one of my grade-school teachers always saying, "Don't say you can't! If you keep saying you can't do something, you will believe it, and you won't be able to do it! Instead, say, 'I can do it!'"
If you don't believe in the power of God to help you succeed, you will never be able to accomplish anything worthwhile for God. You must believe in what God can do through you because you are in Christ.
My dad, Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin, always told me as a child, "With God, you can do anything and accomplish anything you desire in life." When the Bible says, "I can do all things through Christ," the "I can" is based on God, not on you. With God, you can accomplish any task set before you.
You see, when you abandon "I can't" and replace it with "I can," you are taking the first step in walking by faith. Then God will help you do what you cannot do in your own strength, ability, and wisdom. God will meet you when you take a step of faith. But as long as you stand still doing nothing, saying, "I can't!" God has nothing to bless!
Notice the first part of Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things...." Not some things. Not a few things. But you can do all things! You see, you can do all things in Christ, not because of who you are, but because of whose you are. Your confidence and strength come from God, not from you.
Some people never do anything for God because they are afraid of failing. But I would rather be considered a failure for trying than to be a failure because I never stepped out in faith to do something for God.
I tell people who stumbled and failed, "You are only a failure as long as you stay on the ground. Get up, dust yourself off, and go on with God!"
The last part of Philippians 4:13 says, "...through Christ which strengtheneth me." The secret of your strength and overcoming power is in Christ. It's not your strength and ability; it's His. You will be amazed at what can be done when you believe in the power of the One who lives on the inside of you!
Jesus Christ is the Source of your strength. Stop looking to yourself to overcome the enemy or to have the wisdom to know what to do in life! You are strongest in life when you are totally dependent upon God. Your strength comes from obeying God's Word and doing what God told you to do.
Continually remember that your power source is not limited to what you can do. But with God as your Helper, your power source is unlimited! Therefore, you can say with authority, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me the power!"
Excerpt permission granted by Faith Library Publications