Where is Your Focus?

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” [Philippians 4:13 NKJV]

Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they [are] stronger than we.” And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies [is] a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it [are] men of [great] stature. “There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” [Numbers 13:30-33 NKJV]

Do you realize that out of all the children of Israel, only Caleb and Joshua entered the promised land? Their faith was in God, their focus on His strength. The people who grumbled and scared the entire assembly with their bad report had their focus on themselves, their lack, and also on their enemies, their seeming strength. The Israelites’ entire focus was based on comparing their own ability against these “giants,” instead of the power and faithfulness of Almighty God.

It seems to be common for our sinful nature to look to ourselves for everything. Answers to questions, solutions to problems, comfort, and our own abilities, or we only see the lack thereof. Even our dear Moses tried to sidle out of being God’s spokesman by claiming he was slow of speech. It was good for the Lord to rebuke him. I mean, look how the Lord changed Moses’ focus and helped him become a faithful prophet and leader! I don’t know how many times I need to be reminded that when the Lord calls me to do something, I need not look to my own talents, strengths, and prowess. I need to look up to my God who sets the stars in motion, creates beauty out of nothing, and holds all things together by the power of His might.

How about you? Are you making excuses to the One who chooses with omniscience?