YOU CAN ACHIEVE- Open Heavens devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Num 18-20

YOU CAN ACHIEVEFanny J. Crosby: An Autobiography (Hendrickson Biographies)

Friday, March 19, 2010

MEMORIZE: “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” (Mark 9:23)

READ: Mark 9:17-27

One of the greatest hymn writers known in Christianity is Fanny Crosby. Like Paul who refused to be limited by his physical stature, Fanny was confronted by a physical health challenge yet she refused to be limited by it. From living examples of Fanny, Paul and the likes, it is glaring that physical limitations can only limit those who let them. As long as you refuse to be limited by your physical or financial disabilities, and handicaps, you will see yourself soaring above those who never had a handicap in the first place.
You will be shocked to discover that the physically challenged or handicapped are better managers of their bodies than those without handicaps; And as a result, they accomplish feats that even some able-bodied people cannot do. Are you physically challenged? Do you have a hearing, seeing or walking problem? The Lord will touch you this season. Do you know that God could sometimes decide to make you a statement to the world by making you accomplish feats even with your present disability?

Fanny had a health challenge that was not properly treated which made her blind as early as six weeks old. Inspite of this, she enrolled at the New York school for the blind at the age of 12 and so excelled in her studies that she returned there to teach in 1847 for the next 11 years. In her state of blindness, she wrote over 7000 sacred songs and hymns including ‘Near the Cross’, ‘Safe in the Arms of Jesus’, ‘Rescue the Perishing’, etc. One day, Fanny visited the home of her friends - the Knapps who had a very large pipe - organ.

As Mrs Knapp invited Fanny beside the piano to listen to her newly composed melody, she asked of her opinion concerning the tune. Intuitively, Fanny blurted out: ‘Blessed assurance Jesus is mine’. Thereafter she drew from her wealth of knowledge of scripture and continued: ‘Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine; heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of His Spirit, washed in His blood’.

That was how that hymn was born! She finally died at over 84 years. If a blind woman can achieve so much in her life time, leaving wonderful legacies for us, what can’t you achieve by the grace of God on your life?

ACTION POINT:
Your limitations are not as severe as Fanny Crosby’s. If she can achieve so much for the Kingdom, Heaven will not excuse your reasons for non achievement.