There are directives in the Bible which are just humanly impossible. God knows this as well as we do, so he has told us that what he commissions us to do, he provides the power for us to do it. However, we need to know how we are to accomplish these missions impossible, so let's take a look at a few of them.

Be Kind to Everyone

Our first mission impossible is found in 2 Timothy 2:24: "And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he (or she) must be kind to everyone..." Be kind to everyone. Mission impossible!

Everyone includes the coworker who is not kind to me; it includes the clerk in the store who is slow and lazy and wastes my time; it includes the person on the telephone who is rude and harsh. Everyone includes my son or daughter who is inconsiderate to me, my mate who is moody. Everyone gives me no loopholes.

God's been working on this one with me, and I surely have a long way to go. But it's a regular prayer now--"Lord, help me to be kind to everyone today." Because I taught customer service skills for many years, I expect a lot from service people. And I find it's easy for me to treat these people--these strangers--unkindly, in my words and my body language if their service falls short of what I expect.

I've started learning to think: "If Jesus were here, how would he interact with these strangers?" First of all, they wouldn't be strangers to him; he would see them as people. And then, he would look beyond their behavior and see their need. So, I've been asking God to help me be kind to everyone by seeing people as Jesus would see them. And I'm finding it makes all the difference in the world. They aren't just customer service agents to me any longer; they are individuals with problems and needs of their own. Once I start to think about them the way Jesus does, it's not difficult to be kind to them.

Lack of kindness is usually a result of being self-focused rather than others-focused. When we forget ourselves and think about the other person, being kind isn't nearly so impossible. How about it? Ready to tackle this mission impossible with me today, and ask God to teach you how to be kind to everyone? It's very possible with Jesus.

Give Thanks in All Circumstances

Another mission impossible is found in

1 Thessalonians 5:18. It says: "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

I remember when I was with a friend who had just torn her favorite blouse on a table in a restaurant. Like any of us, she was fuming and fusing about it, and she said, "Lord, do I have to give thanks for this?" We both laughed, but isn't that so typical of us? Was Paul serious about giving thanks in all circumstances? Sure seems like mission impossible.

Certainly there are circumstances in our lives which are not from God; there are problems we encounter because others are doing wrong; there is evil all around us which is not of God. But even in the midst of that kind of situation, we can give thanks to God.

Now, that means when I rip the blouse, when I've got a headache, when I've just received some bad news, when there's not enough money to make it this month, when my health is poor, when someone dear to me has died, I still can say, "I thank you, Jesus, in the midst of this."

However, keep this in mind. God is not asking us to celebrate these poor circumstances. We don't have to pretend everything's okay and we're happy, happy, happy about negative happenings. But, right in the midst of them, in spite of your feelings, you force the words of thankfulness from your mouth, and in obedience by faith, you give thanks in all circumstances.

God will honor your obedience. Don't wait until you feel thankful; it may never happen. Just obey God, and give thanks with the fruit of your lips: words. You'll be amazed to see what happens to you when you learn to live by this mission impossible: Give thanks in all circumstances.

Do Everything Without Complaining

"Do everything without complaining or arguing." There's our next mission impossible That's what Paul wrote to the Philippians (Phil 2:14). Maybe the Apostle Paul just doesn't understand complaining is the American way! Why, without complaining what would we talk about at work, on breaks, with our friends? But when Paul uses the word "everything," he just doesn't give us much room to maneuver, does he?

Think with me: When was the last time you complained about something? Last week, yesterday, ten minutes ago? Often we just have no idea how much we complain. Here's a challenge for you: See if you can make it through one entire day--like today--without complaining about anything. That includes the weather, the job, the company, the boss, the customers, your children, your car--everything.

If you will take this challenge, it will show you just how often you complain and don't even realize it. Complaining is not something we plan to do, it just happens. But doing everything without complaining or arguing is something we must plan to do. It won't just happen. You've got to pray it into your life daily, and then be very conscious and aware of it all day long. If you tend to be a complainer, it's a bad habit and it won't break easily. You'll have to work at it.

Complaining is contagious; if you complain, you cause others to do the same. The cure for this disease is thankfulness. We're told in Colossians 3 to put on thankfulness, and if you're wearing thankfulness each day, you won't be a complainer. When you feel like complaining, start reciting what you have to be thankful for. It will cure your complaining spirit quickly.

So, here's our mission impossible: Whatever you're doing, do it without complaining. Wow, what a difference others will see in us if we allow God to work this miracle through us. Though it is mission impossible humanly speaking, the Holy Spirit within us makes it a possibility for those who are born from above.

Pray Continually

First Thessalonians 5:17 is one of the shortest verses in the Bible. It simply says: "Pray continually." But packed into those two words is another mission impossible. How in the world can we pray continually?

Does that mean we become cloistered like monks and pray night and day? Even so, we couldn't literally pray continually, could we? We'd have to eat and sleep. Well, part of the problem here is we misunderstand what prayer is.

Paul tells us in Ephesians (6:18) to pray on all occasions with all kinds of prayer. Certainly we should have daily times of quiet solitude when we're alone with God in prayer. That's one kind of prayer. But all through our day, no matter what we're doing, our hearts should be in an attitude of prayer, so throughout the day we're breathing prayers and staying in touch with Jesus. That's another kind of prayer.

For instance, I remember a time when a friend's daughter was dying. She was heavy on my heart during that time, and I prayed for her each morning. But all through the day, I breathed prayers for her, thinking them in my mind, saying quietly to myself, "Lord, please be with Jean today and comfort her."

Praying continually means we are continually in the attitude of prayer, and when our minds have a free moment, we use those moments to send up a prayer. Now, in order to be able to do that, we have to have those quiet times of prayer, where we have established that firm and trusting relationship with the Lord. This is not a substitute for secluded prayer time. But it's another kind of prayer, and I think it's one of the most wonderful benefits of being a Christian. To be able to stay in touch all day long with the Living God, just by breathing a prayer--what an incredible joy that is.

This is not mission impossible; this is privilege incredible. Today pray continually; look for those little breaks when you can snatch some prayer time. You'll be surprised how many you'll find. Commute time, lunchtime, or right while you're working--pray continually. It sure makes a difference in your day when you do.

Love Your Enemies

Here's another mission impossible, as Jesus gave it to us in Luke 6: "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you."

Now, if that's not impossible, I don't know what is. When we can love people who are out to hurt us, who make our lives miserable, who are destructive and cruel, you better believe it comes from some power other than our own. And when we can love those people, there is no louder sermon in all the world.

Keep in mind that loving does not mean liking. Agape love is not necessarily a good feeling toward a person; it is acting in loving ways. No doubt we have people in our lives who are not naturally lovable. But we love them by doing good to them. Jesus made it clear we must do good things for people who we don't naturally love; people for whom we have no warm feelings.

Who are your enemies? Who gives you a hard time? It may be a family member or a close friend, a coworker or a boss. Can you identify at least one? Okay, then ask yourself, "What good thing will I do for that person?" Decide on one specific act you'll do on their behalf today or soon.

You say, "I don't want to." I know. Mission impossible, right? So, you do it by faith, not by feelings. That's what the Christian life is all about, walking by faith and not by sight. You make a plan to do something good for them, and you do it. Period. The feelings may or may not accompany your good deed. Never mind. Obey Jesus--do good to those who hate you.

Interestingly, you'll discover when you step out by faith to obey Jesus, you'll have the power to perform because he'll supply it. And sooner or later the feelings fall in line.

Well, we've looked at five missions impossible:

1. Be kind to everyone.

2. Give thanks in all circumstances.

3. Do everything without complaining.

4. Pray continually.

5. Love your enemies.

Now just imagine with me what would happen if every Christian who daily goes into the marketplace practiced these five things consistently. We'd be living miracles, wouldn't we? Who could deny Jesus makes a difference, when they see we can, through Christ, do all things, even these impossible things.

©2001 Mary's newest book, Soaring on High, Spiritual Insights from the Life of an Eagle, can be ordered by calling 1-800-292-1218 or online at www.christianworkingwoman.org . Added 8/19/01