Mark 9;23 ‘Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

DAILY READING     2 Corinthians 8; 2 Kings 20-21; Nahum 2

Ludwig van Beethoven is considered by many to be the world’s greatest composer. He composed some of the most profound Christian masterpieces in history. However, from the time he was born in 1770, Beethoven faced overwhelmingly difficult circumstances. His childhood and adolescence were difficult due to his father’s harsh discipline and alcoholism. Beethoven’s education never exceeded elementary level. While still a teenager, his mother died. His father couldn’t cater for the family and at only 19 years, Beethoven became their family’s bread winner.  In 1792, Beethoven relocated to Vienna. During this time he quickly made a name for himself as a virtuoso pianist. Publishers soon began to compete for his newest works.

However around the age of 26 years, tragedy struck; he began to experience loss of hearing. By 1801, he had lost 60% of his hearing. Hearing loss would present a severe trial to anyone, but for a master musician – deafness was indeed devastating.  Though he suffered bouts of deep depression, Beethoven was determined. with God’s help, to succeed despite his disability. To him deafness was not an obstacle large enough to block his path to success. Strengthened by faith, he forged forward.

He began to observe the vibrations of the piano.  To hear his own compositions, he sawed off the legs of his piano and placed the piano on the floor, and pressed his ear to the floor as well. He would then proceed to bang on the piano keys, to hear what he had written. With this method he eventually composed some of the best symphonies of all times. And the amazing thing is that five of these best symphonies were composed when he was completely deaf. This period also saw the composition of his largest works. It is astonishing to study the complexities and beauty of his late works and to realize that, except in his imagination, he never heard them performed.  Through his ordeal, he maintained a close personal relationship with God, often turning to God to make sense out of his situation. The important thing is that he never gave up. By a strong faith in God, he withstood, the challenges that came to him, he prevailed and excelled in his art.   Though he died in 1827, to many people, Beethoven represents the highest level of musical genius.

Indeed the judgement of a man’s greatness is not only to be measured in the mission he accomplishes, but in the obstacles he overcomes in the process. Failure will never overtake you, if your determination to succeed is strong enough. In the journey of life everyone faces challenges. However, in order to succeed, we must first have faith that we can.  You must have an inner strength and conviction, to keep standing no matter how hard the wind blows. What is pushing you forward has to be stronger than what is pushing against you. Your inner forte of faith must be stronger than the outer winds of doubt.

In Mathew chapter 7, Jesus talks about the house that is built upon the rock. Despite the storm, rain, wind, the house built on the rock, kept standing. That rock is the Word of God. When The Word of God is strong in your heart, you can withstand any challenge. The Word births faith in you that pushes you forward, propelling you to overcome and triumph against all odds. Indeed faith is the victory that overcomes the world. This is why when you have faith, nothing can be impossible to you.

Mark 9;23 says ‘Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

To succeed, you must have the vision to see and the faith to believe, and the courage to do and the strength to endure. Therefore determine today, that with God’s help,  nothing will ever stop you. Indeed if God be for you, who can be against you?  When you are filled with The Word, God makes your forehead like flint, you become like a rock. And the Scripture says that whosoever falls upon the rock of The Word shall be broken and on whosoever it shall fall, it will grind to powder. So when you are filled with the Word whosoever or whatsoever is coming against you, has just two options; to be broken or to be ground to powder. The Word within you makes you indefatigable. It makes you more than a conqueror. Indeed by the Word you become the winner in all of life’s challenges.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to continue to press forward, no matter how sometimes hard the journey may seem. Please grant me  a renewed and deep appetite for Your Word, so that strengthened by faith within, I shall continue to stand and never fall in Jesus Name. 

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You will never need more than God to experience the impossible in life. WORDBITE 222.