”YOU CAN DO IT” is a new age, positive thinking bunch of baloney. The truth is that “you can do it through Christ who gives you strength”. Your strength is really yours by proxy.
Jesus is the difference. An important and necessary difference.
We can do nothing without Him. In fact, we have never done anything without Him:
“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.'” [Acts 17:23-28]
What we say reflects what we believe. Someone who focuses on “you can do it” is implying that you have within you the power or ability to accomplish the task. But Jesus tells us;
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING.” [John 15:5].
Being in Christ makes a difference to what someone can and cannot do. VERBALLY acknowledging Christ makes a difference by revealing who is getting the glory for what we can do.
Someone may argue that as long as someone is a Christian/born again/saved/in Christ, he does not need to “say” or mention “through Christ”. Someone may argue that simply saying “you can do it” is the same as saying “you can do it through Christ” because you are assuming the person is in Christ (and Christ is in the person). But James disagrees. Acknowledging God’s will, even in our words, is essential:
“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you OUGHT to say, “IF IT IS THE LORD’S WILL, we will live and do this or that.” [James 4:13-15]
These words are said in a chapter that follows one on the power and importance of the words we say. Words reflect belief. Our words are a product of our beliefs. What we say must reflect where our belief, conviction and confidence lies. Simply saying “You can do it” implies or communicates faith and confidence in the person. But saying “You can do it through Christ” implies and communicates faith and confidence in Jesus Christ.
You are not more than a conqueror. You are more than conquerors THROUGH Him that loved us.
So, I am sorry but I don’t believe in you, I believe in Jesus Christ.
I don’t think you can do it, I think you can do it THROUGH Christ who gives you strength.
Alien Citizen 