I don’t know about you but sometimes I find myself surrounded by negativity. When I look around, sometimes I’m amazed by all of the negativity and despair that is spread through society today. And the really sad part is that it’s contagious! How many times have you gone in to work with the mindset that it’s going to be a great day and before you set your purse down, you’ve already jumped on the negative train. You hear someone complaining and you can’t resist your opportunity to throw in your opinion. I know this because I have done it more times than I care to admit!
Thankfully, God will not leave us hanging! His word is full of stories….all true…of what to do and what not to do. All we have to do is spend time in fellowship with Him.
To see a perfect example, go with me to Numbers 14. In a nutshell, Moses has sent 12 representatives, one man from each of the 12 tribes, to scope out the Promised Land. They were to go check out the area and report their findings. Out of the 12, Caleb and Joshua were the only 2 who had anything positive to say. The other 10 came back with negative reports. As a matter of fact, their reports were so negative that they stirred great dissension and fear among the Israelites. The Israelites were now afraid to go to the Promised Land and nothing Moses could say or do would change their minds. The entire nation was bailing on Moses, but in reality, bailing on God! As a result, God got swore an oath that none of them, with the exception of Caleb and Joshua, would enter the Promised Land. Why only Caleb and Joshua? Numbers 14:24 says, “…because my servant Caleb has a different spirit…”. Caleb’s attitude was what saved him!
So, we have 12 men, all on the same journey and experiencing the same thing but at the same time, not experiencing the same thing. How is that possible? Why did they report fear when Caleb and Joshua reported victory? It’s simple. Caleb and Joshua chose to stand on God’s promises. They did not give in to the doubt and fear planted by the enemy. They chose to look through the lens of victory. Caleb and Joshua did not doubt God’s faithfulness!
Just as Caleb and Joshua, we have a choice to make. Are we looking through the lens of victory? Or the lens of defeat? The way we view situations is really up to us. We get to choose how we view the world. How do we change our habit of fear? How do we flip our script? It’s really not that hard…but it will take practice. My suggestion is this: Start with being thankful…and I mean thankful for everything. When you wake up every morning, before you get out of bed, say the things you are thankful for. Just say them out loud or if you don’t want to wake anyone, whisper them. God will hear you no matter how you say them. Before you realize it, this routine will turn in to a full conversation with God and your whole view for the day will be turned in to victory. You’ll crave the presence of God. He will be in your every thought!
So, it’s basically up to you. Are you going to choose victory or defeat? Joy or sadness? I don’t know about you, my sweet friend, but I’m jumping on the Joy Train!