Remember The Little Engine That Could? Her famous words are probably running through your mind now; “I think I can…I think I can…I think I can''. The timeless story of a little train engine who pulled a load that was much too big for her, up and over a mountain. I’m sure when we heard that story as children we never imagined how much it would resemble real life! How many times have we tackled situations that were just a bit too large for us? At one time or another we have all been faced with decisions that seemed overwhelming. How many of us have been able to relate to that little engine?

As Christians, there is another mountain before us that is sometimes a little harder to see and a whole lot harder to get over. That mountain is sin. Sometimes the sin is a small hill, and we can overcome it easily. But when that sin begins to consume our thoughts and our actions it becomes a fearful mountain, and you may begin to wonder if you really can conquer it. We can get a complacent attitude and begin to make excuses for our sin. The Good News is that when you accepted Jesus as your Savior, he gave you the power over sin! God gives us the victory through Jesus. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power…!²

When we go to God for help and ask Him to be our strength, we can â€"through Himâ€" conquer any sinful mountain that looms over us. We can be victorious over anything that might be dragging us down. When we are faced with mountains too big to climb on our own, God comes alongside us and lightens our load. Jesus took on the biggest mountain of all â€"the sin of all mankindâ€" and emerged victorious! Let Him have control of your engine and like that Little Engine you too will be saying “I thought I could…I thought I could…I thought I couldâ€�!

Suggested Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for taking on the sin of this world and conquering the greatest mountain of all. Because of your sacrifice, I can have victory over my sin through you! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

1.    1 Corinthians 15:57 (NIV).

2.    2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV).

Today’s Encounter was written by: Veronica B.