The following story comes from Michelle Baldwin in "Today's Christian Woman":

One afternoon my 5-year-old daughter, Faith, and her preschool brother, Alfred, were doing "homework." Alfred had a habit of saying phrases like "I can't" or "I don't know how."

This particular afternoon, Faith responded with a Bible verse she had learned at school:

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Alfred replied, "Then you do it."

What a great verse Philippians 4:13 is! But we need to be careful that we put the emphasis on the right part of the verse. Far too often, I'm afraid we are inclined to emphasize the first part -- "I can do all things...." It becomes our mantra for every self- help program. If we're having trouble quitting drinking or smoking, we chant, "I can do all things." If we're needing a special measure of courage to tackle a task, we quote, "I can do all things."

What gives that verse its meaning, though, is the second part -- "...through Christ who strengthens me." Without Christ, I can do nothing. Christ is the one who gives me the strength and ability not only to quit bad habits, but to accomplish all that God intends for me to accomplish as I live to His glory, to do all that God has called me to do.

When Jeremiah was called to be God's prophet, he was hesitant and gave the excuse that he was too young (Jer. 1:4-8). God didn't deny that Jeremiah was young. But any excuse is beside the point. When God sends you to do his work, excuses don't mean a thing.

What Jeremiah didn't realize (and what we often forget as well) is that when you are talking to God, all the "I-don't-know-hows" and the "I am onlys" don't matter a bit because our God has supreme power at his disposal. And when God gives you a job to do, he also gives you his presence and his power.

Because of that we have this assurance:

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
(Philippians 4:13)