We Can Certainly Do It

Our mindsets are more important than we realize.
The Bible addresses this when we’re told to “take captive every thought” to Christ.”
(2 Corinthians 10:5)
And, “think on these things…” (Philippians 3:8)
“These things,” by the way, are: whatever is True, Noble, Just, Lovely, Pure, of Good Report,
Virtuous, and Praiseworthy.” A pneumonic device I’ve long employed to remember this important verse is: TNJ - like TMJ (the jaw thing) but “N” instead of “M.” Next comes LPGA - the golf thing - except there’s no “A.” And, finally, “VP,” like Vice President. TNJ, LPG(A), VP.
If we do nothing else but substitute any of the above, in our thinking, when we notice we’re heading in a negative direction, we will feel better. I’ve noticed Jesus fits the above definition of each of these words. If we just think on Him, our thinking is automatically lifted higher. We feel better when we’re thinking along more positive lines.
Our mindsets are more important than we know. {“Guard your hearts…”}
In Numbers chapter 13 we see just how important this can be.
The Lord told Moses to send some men to explore “the promised land” of Canaan, which God was giving to His people, the Israelites. Moses sent 12 men, one from each of the twelve tribes.
These men included Caleb, who was from the tribe of Judah, (same as Jesus), and Hoshea, to whom Moses gave the name Joshua - which is a form of Jesus. Joshua had also spent much time in the presence of God along with Moses.
So the twelve men go. They’re gone for 40 days. (A significant number throughout the Bible.)
Upon their return they give their report: the land is lush! It was so lush it took two of them to carry a single cluster of grapes on a pole between them. They said the land flowed with milk and honey. But the people who live there are powerful, the cities are fortified, and very large.
Then Caleb spoke up: “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” (Numbers 13:30)
If they had listened to him, and trusted God who told Moses He was giving them this land, they could have saved themselves forty years of wandering through the desert.
“But,” (contrast) follows quickly in the very next verse: “But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people…” They’re like giants! And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land…” (:31, 32) Next thing we know the whole community is complaining about having left Egypt, then rebelling against Moses and Aaron, and things go from bad to worse.
The end result is that the Israelites had to spend another 40 years in the desert because of their disbelief. If only they had listened to Caleb and Joshua and trusted God! If only they had chosen the positive rather than the negative report, or mindset! The last of the unwilling generation had to die out before they entered the Promised Land.
What giants are we facing in our lives? Who are we listening to?
With what type of mindset are we operating? Take a moment to ask yourself these questions.
Then, let me encourage all of us today to choose the positive, rather than the negative.