Fix Your Focus

The Israelites had arrived at the very brink of the Promised Land. Poised to enter in, they sent 12 spies to check things out.

When the 12 spies returned, 10 gave a discouraging report. But two spies, Joshua and Caleb, gave an encouraging report.

The problem with the spies who gave the majority report was that they didn’t see God for who He is. They only saw problems. God, however, had promised He would give them the land—a land flowing with milk and honey.

But they ignored what He said and put their eyes on circumstances, on obstacles, on challenges, on giants, and ultimately on defeat. They had a small God, thus they had big problems. They focused their attention on the obstacles rather than on their objective.

They said, “But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak!” (Numbers 13:28 NLT).

Then there was the minority report from Joshua and Caleb. They saw the same obstacles, the same challenges. But they also saw opportunities and great victories if they went into the land.

It all comes down to how you look at things.

Obstacles are frightening when you take your eyes off the objective. When you fix your attention on the obstacle rather than on the objective, fear always will eclipse your faith. Instead, remember what your objective is. Take your eyes off the obstacles and put them on the opportunities.

We all face problems. We all face obstacles and challenges. And we all face giants. But can we see them in the light of who God is?

Don’t look at God in the light of your problem. Look at your problem in the light of God. He is bigger than what you’re facing.