Have you heard of the name Sethur? How about Palti? Gaddiel? Or Geul? Or maybe Nahbi? They were part of a group that who had an attitude that that infected the Children of Israel as they approached the Promise Land . They were part of a group that brought a curse to the children of Israel ’s progress. The disease is called “Negative thinking”. The names I just mentioned. They are 5 men named in Number 13 that were part of the 12 spies sent to spy out the land of promise.
You probably don’t remember those guys because of their negative report. They spied out the land and when they came back to report what they had seen, 10 of these men said, NO WAY. There is no way that we can move into the land and conquer it. In Numbers 13 verse 31 it says, “we are not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.” Virtually, every adult in the entire nature concurred with the majority of the spies. BUT, 2 men, said by God’s strength WE CAN DO IT. Only Joshua and Caleb DARED to believe God. This negative thinking was the very reason this generation of Israelites perished in the wilderness instead of inheriting the land that flowed with milk and honey. (Numbers 14:26-38).
Usually great achievements by both nations and individuals are the results of both perseverance and faith. It is a little known fact that there was a colony from the Old World that came to America and failed BEFORE the Pilgrims sailed and succeeded.
Long ago when I was in High School, there were those who insisted that it was impossible for a man to break the 4 minute mile. We once laughed at dreamers who spoke of putting men in space and on the moon.
Progress and success is always attributed to those who look beyond frustration and failure and move forward regardless. It is said that inventor of the light bulb experimented over 2 thousand times before he came up with the incandescent light bulb.
Negative thinking devours the seed in winter before the warmth of spring can give root in a fertile soil. Negative thinking chains the pioneer to the well worn paths of the past and denies to every generation the challenges and freedoms that are over the next horizon.
My friends, the same is true within our spiritual journeys. The devil is the one who devises tricks and strategies to discourage and disappointed us. The evil one has come to divide and destroy. He doesn’t want you to succeed. He doesn’t want you to be victorious in your spiritual journey. He will devise all sorts of obstacles and barriers to discourage you in your walk.
The apostle Paul experienced more than his share of frustrations, disappointments and disasters. Listen, Second Corinthians 11 beginning with verse 24, “5 times I received from the Jews the 40 lashes minus one, 3 times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, 3 times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day I the open sea” and he adds much more.
So, you see the Apostle Paul could have developed this negative complex. Probably if we had been beaten, maligned and misunderstood we would have opted for early retirement. But the apostle Paul gives each one of us this encouragement as we journey in our spiritual life. Our bible boost for today comes from Philippians 4 and verse 13, listen closely, “I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME.” Did you hear it? Where you listening?
The apostle Paul gives us the answer to over come as Zig Zigler says, “stinkin thinking”. Overcoming negative thinking comes with putting our trust in the king of kings and lord of lords.
Remember, YOUR BIBLE BOOST FOR TODAY, ‘WE CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS US'
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Philippians 4:13, a good one to memorize
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