Do We Believe Impossible Things? By Judith Bennett

, July 10th, 2009

The Salvation Army in New Zealand has been impacted by eighteen months of 24-7 Prayer.  The fire of prayer has been ignited and lessons of faith have been learned.  After a year and a half of perseverance and answered prayer what have they learned?  Judith Bennett expounds...

“That’s the way it’s done,” the Queen said with great decision: “nobody can do two things at once, you know. Let’s consider your age to begin with – how old are you?”

“I’m seven and a half exactly.”

“You needn’t say ‘exactually’,” the Queen remarked. “I can believe it without that. Now I’ll give you something to believe. I’m just one hundred and one, five months and a day.”

“I can’t believe that!” said Alice

“Can’t you?” the Queen said in a pitying tone. “Try again: draw a long breath and shut your eyes.”

Alice laughed. “There’s no use trying,” she said: “one can’t believe impossible things.”

“I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast…”

[Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll]

Do we believe impossible things? Do we believe in the God-of-the-impossible? In the midst of the dark period of the book of Kings – which records the complacency of God’s people, rampant idolatry, wars and evil rulers – there are faith-building stories that rustle through the pages showing God’s compassion and love. Miracles among the mayhem. These accounts demonstrate an important biblical principal: God uses the ordinary to do the impossible.

Consider the story of the impoverished widow in 2 Kings 4:1-7. In the culture of that day widows were the least in society – the most vulnerable. This particular widow was in the worst possible situation. Her husband had died leaving a debt that needed to be paid…The “impossible” was private – no public sensation – not even Elisha present. This miracle would point only to the amazing power of God. The widow was miraculously supplied with oil, the limit only being the number of jugs and bowls she borrowed. (I wonder if she ever thought, “If only I’d gone for more jars!”)

God does use the ordinary to do the impossible. He takes our hesitant “except” and uses it for His extraordinary purpose for our good and His Glory. “Lord, I have nothing except…it’s very little, but you are in the business of the impossible.”

Is anything too hard for the Lord? The simple answer is NO!

...Many times in Scripture we are reminded that God does not do things our way…An eighty-year-old to lead a million moaning people to a better land! A prostitute in the royal line of Jesus! An adulterous murderer who became a man after God’s own heart! ...God is the God of the unexpected and impossible. At times as I have desperately “gathered the jugs and bowls” I wondered if God’s anointing oil could possibly fill this jar of clay. Personal experience has taught me that His Word is true and faithful.

During two weeks of non-stop prayer at Hutt City (Crossroads) three seven-year-old girls approached Sheryn Adamson. Amber, one of the girls, told Sheryn the mother of her friend did not want her to go to Kids’ Club anymore. Amber prompted her friend to explain the situation. “My mum doesn’t like God,” E told Sheryn. It was the same with the young girl’s Nana. “If you bring a bible into my house I’ll throw it in the rubbish,” she had informed her little granddaughter. A short time later Sheryn saw them on their knees – one had her hands clasped, all with heads bowed, obviously fervently praying their little hearts out!

Next week the three little friends rushed up to Sheryn, “It’s worked! It’s worked! E’s mum is getting to like God. E saw her reading a Bible, then she closed her eyes and was praying. She’s going to let E come to Kids’ Club – it worked – it worked!”

A few weeks later I was invited to speak at the launch of Miramar’s 24-7 Prayer. Because children were present I told the story of the girl at Hutt City. I asked if there as a seven-year-old girl present and one child timely raised her hand. During the week I visited Miramar again and in their Prayer Room was shown the prayer wall. On it was scrawled in childish handwriting: Please God let F’s mummy let her go to Tuesday JAM and church. (JAM stands for Jesus and Me.) I was told that F’s family is Muslim.

Sometimes I believe as many as six impossible things before breakfast. Now there’s a challenge for our quite time with God. It could radically change our prayer life, our church, our community and even our nation.

Excerpt taken from chapter 10 of White Cloud Soaring by Judith Bennett: the story of how eighteen months of 24-7 Prayer has transformed the Salvation Army in New Zealand.