Saturday, June 23, 2007

How Do I see Myself?

"And we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight."(Numbers 13:33)


Piggy Back Ride My devotional this morning was on this scripture and it's being the key to the Israelites not going in to fight the giants in their promised land.

Joshua and Caleb's report was that this truly was their promised land...they brought back samples of the fruit..."When they reached the Valley of Eshcol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs." Numbers 13:23

That's huge fruit! Have you ever seen a "single cluster of grapes" big enough that it had to be carried by two men on a pole?

We know that they absolutely could have gone in and not only fought the giants, but they would have "possessed" the land. Caleb's declaration was "we should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it" (Numbers 13:30)....they would have won! God was on their side, so what could possibly have stopped them?

Only one thing...fear.

A fear that was brought on by how they saw themselves...very small.

This wasn't God's view of them, it was their own...what's worse is that the enemy saw them as they saw themselves... once they'd established their own view of themselves, the enemy saw them this way. Fear set in, and not even the size of the promised fruit could persuade these men to go and possess their land. It was their land already, God had promised it, but it was their job to possess it.

The story would have been so different if they had only seen themselves as God saw them.

They were His chosen people! They were mighty men of strength. They were conquerors and over comers...On top of all of that, God Himself was leading them into this battle and would have ensured the victory!

Had they only been able to catch a glimpse of who God had created them to be and to choose to see through HIS lens...they would have gone in, they would have fought the giants, possessed the land...and been able to eat of the enormous fruit that God had waiting for them.

So, how do we see ourselves?

Are we "grasshoppers in our own sight"?

Do we see ourselves as victims?

Do we see our selves as more than conquerors?!

Do we see ourselves as victorious through Him?!?!

It is so important that we take on God's view of ourselves....because THAT is the view the enemy will have of us. HE will do the shrinking back when we learn to see ourselves and ACT as God sees us.

We will be able to go and possess our promised lands and ALL of the magnificent fruit that He has provided for us in that place!

3 comments:

Shaun and Holly said...

Amen, Amen, Amen!

Tamatha said...

kewl...good thoughts:o)

Williams Family Blog said...

Jen,

Once again a timely write just for me

Karen :)