Pastor Madison's Meditation Moments & Blogs

4. Adjust your attitude (Numbers 13:30; 14:6-9, 24).

Attitude is the overall mindset, emotional state or feelings one has toward something or someone. Joshua and Caleb had a positive can-do attitude. Their attitude was not some wild, foolish fantasy or the attitude of some religious fanatics nor even the today’s positive thinking of the unsaved or one who accepts new age teaching. Their attitude was based on God’s promises (his Word) and the evidence of his power and provision. (With God’s promises, come God’s power and provisions.) In order to move our lives forward and go forth into the promises of God, we must adjust our attitudes. Attitude is the soil and atmosphere in which faith grows. Faith cannot grow in bad soil. We must change our vocabulary of failure and defeat. “How will this be? The Holy Spirit will come upon you. Nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:34-37)”. Being a Christian and living in the power of the Holy Spirit gives us a new attitude about life and a new power for living.

5. Act Now for Your Future (Numbers 13:30).

The Israelites wanted to go back to Egypt, back to being slaves and the victims of violence and oppression. Caleb said, “Let us go up at once and possess the land (KJV)”. Caleb wanted to act now for his future. This is the way faith works. Faith believes and has expectations for the future, but it acts in the present. Act now for your future. Stop just loving life and having fun. Stop wasting time and the blessings of youth. Set a goal and work on it. You will get old sooner than you think. You can enjoy life but live for your future today (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

Stop talking about your past, regretting it, feeling sorry, hurt and angry about it, and even longing for it. Think about God’s new things, going to God’s new places and meeting new people. Live your life in “drive” and not in “reverse” or “park”. In faith, do something for your future. What God has for you in your future is better than what you left behind you in your past.

I wish I could tell you that these were five simple and easy steps, and that, after you read and try them, you will be on your way to success and prosperity. This is not the case. It is only through “faith and patience [that we] inherit what has been promised (Hebrews 6:12)”. “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised (Hebrews 10:36).” Hang in there and keep pressing for what’s ahead
(Philippians 3:13, 14).