Tuesday, 23 July 2013

The Power Of The Right Mindset



Last week, Pst Mk began on conditioning for victory and showed how we must see in His light and today we go deeper and explore how we should also change the way we think till it is in line with His word. 

Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals, and its new attitude] so that you may prove [for yourselves], what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]   -Romans 12:2 Amplified


After the children of Israel had been taken out of Egypt (out of slavery), something that did not leave them instantly was the mental conditioning they had received after so much time spent in captivity. The situation they were in was one of limitation and in that limitation they had developed a comfort zone and as such they were content in that horrible situation, so much so that after seeing the 10 signs and wonders God had wrought to get them out of Egypt and were now at the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s men behind them and the sea infront of them their response was one based on the old mentality (read Exodus. 14 11-12).


That same mentality is seen in Numbers 13 & 14, when they have had a glimpse of the promised land and seen the opposition they will have to fight against in order to posses the land the same old mentality that sought comfort kicked in (Numbers 14:1-4). The results of this mindset can be seen in Numbers 
14:22-23 and verse 28-30. God’s promise failed to be manifest in the lives of many not because the devil stole it but because these folk had the wrong mindset, they held onto the slave mindset (Numbers 14:4) while God was trying to take them from them slavery and make them a mighty people (Selah).  

However despite the negative mindsets surrounding them 2  young men rose up, with a totally different way of thinking. In the midst of a multitude of people screaming “Lets go back into our comfort zone”, Caleb and Joshua adopted a way of thinking that was in line with God’s way of thinking and this was evidenced in their words Numbers 14:7-9.
 

Likewise, when we received Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, the promises of God became a reality to us, however the way we think can either help or hinder the manifestation of those promises in our lives that is why Romans 12:2 becomes of utmost importance to us if we are to walk in victory. This is why it is also important to spend time in the word, because the more of it we take in the more we make our minds new (renew your mind) and adopt His way of thinking (thinking that is in line with the word of God).


Did you know that the word says “We have the mind of Christ” (read 1Corinthians 2:16). Isn’t that awesome, let it sink in for a while! Last week we learnt that as He is so are we, and that encompasses the way we think too.

So, what is the right mentality and how do you know you have it.

1.       The right mentality sees differently.
In Numbers 13 & 14 the spies were sent into the same land but 10 saw the opposition while only 2 saw the victory that God was preparing for them. To them the enemies were “bread”, that is, easy walk-overs.

In 1 Samuel 17, David gets to a situation where the generals and the king are afraid of a giant, yet David did not see a giant but someone who when compared to God was insignificant.

In the two examples above it is awesome to see how God overlooks those who appear to be qualified, or those we think have the experience all because of a mindset. He also completely ignores the multitudes because the difference is not in the age, the qualifications or the numbers but it is in the mindset.

Do you see giants or do you see your stepping stones to promotion?

Good news is by getting into the word and meditating upon it, you are equipping yourself with the tools to begin to see differently.

2.       The right mentality hears differently.
The people who heard the report back from the spies focused on the negative things they heard, “the giants are in the land…….we were like grasshoppers in their sight”, while 2 young people focused on the fact that the land was an exceedingly good land. How often do we hear the mob give us a negative report (you know when your friends say “It cannot be done”) and because we think so many people can’t be wrong, go with the flow?? Have you read Romans 3:3-4?

Similarly in 1Samuel 17, David did not hear the many exaltations that the giant was receiving from the armies but instead He heard the reward the man who shall kill the giant  would get.

What do you hear when the giants of unemployment, of poverty or teenage HIV stats are talked about, do you hear the voice of those who say they cannot be overcome or do you hear of the rewards that will come to those who stand and kill these giants (every giant you face you will overcome and get a reward)

Remember “The unbelief of many shall not change the faithfulness of God”, Hear the word of the Lord!!!!!

3.       The right mentality speaks differently
Notice how in all examples where the wrong mindset is present those who posses it always are vocal in negativity, even to the point of violence when they are challenged. (Numbers 14:10).

The mentality you posses will always be evidenced by the words you speak, so we will always know the by your words whether or not you have the right mindset.

What many people seldom know however is that because as He is so are we, then whatever we speak will come to pass. Notice how the words that the children of Israel spoke were brought to pass (Numbers 14:28-29), yet in the same breath see what happened to those who spoke differently (Numbers 14:30).

Wow, see how important the right mentality is? It determines what you see, what you hear and what you speak which ultimately determines what will come to pass in your life. God has already given you the victory but have you changed your mindset to begin to see, hear and speak inline with that?

Developing the right mindset is as easy as spending time in the word.

Take some time and breeze through Last Months Blog Posts to see and get started on renewing your mind.

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