Mensa Otabil - You are More Than Able
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This is day number 15 of our 40 days of power. We’re making progress gradually and consistently. This week we are looking at overcoming limitations. We’ve looked at the story of Jeremiah, the story of Gideon, and the story of Zerubbabel. Today we look at the story of Caleb. These were all people who overcame limitations, and you will also break through every limitation this week and in this month. Numbers chapter 13: 30 says, «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.'»
This story speaks volumes about how Christians respond to challenges. Many times we start with a promise from God; we are very sure things are going to work out, and then we face opposition. We then turn very negative. That’s what happened to the children of Israel. God had promised them a land, and they were very enthusiastic about it until they visited the land and saw the people who lived there. They became so discouraged. The leaders who went to spy out the land came back and gave a bad report, a negative report, and the whole nation went into mourning. One man, Caleb, stood up and said, «Hey everybody, keep quiet! It’s not as bad as it’s been reported.» He said, «We are well able to overcome it
Three.»
Three things I want you to see about Caleb’s attitude; it helps us know how to overcome negativity when it starts rising against us. The first thing is that we must silence the voice of unbelief. Caleb quieted the people. The voice of unbelief is very infectious: «I can’t do it,» «I’m not able,» «Things are hard,» «Life is hard,» «Oh, we’re all going to die.» When people start voicing these things, they become very infectious, and before you realize it, it becomes your language, and your language has become self-defeating. What Caleb did is he quieted the people; he said, «Shut up!» Sometimes it’s important to speak to your own self when you are becoming agitated and afraid and say, «Shut up, mind! Shut up and keep quiet! Don’t be afraid!» Or speak to the environment and say, «I’m not going to allow these noises of defeat to overcome me.» So you have to shut down the negative voices.
The second thing is that you have to act quickly, take urgent action. Caleb told the people, «Let us go up at once!» Don’t waste time. When God gives you an assignment, don’t waste time. Don’t wait till tomorrow to do the things you must do today. If you must do it today, don’t say, «I’ll do it tomorrow.» If you must make the call today, don’t say, «I’ll make it tomorrow.» If you must make the decision today, don’t say, «I’m going to do it tomorrow,» because when you postpone your action, you’re also postponing your victory. Caleb says, «Quiet down, everybody! Let’s go quickly! Let’s possess the land!» Quick action, urgent action.
The third thing we have to learn is to speak confidently. Caleb said, «We are well able to overcome it.» The reason he said «we» is because God is with us. If God is with us, there’s no impossibility. So when there is negativity surrounding you, quiet it. Tell it to shut up! Tell your own mind to shut up! Tell that inner voice to shut up and tell the voices speaking to you about fear and defeat to shut up. Act, take urgent action, and then also speak confidently, because that is how you encourage yourself in the Lord so that you can go in against every limitation and overcome them.
This month, you will overcome. This day, you will overcome, and you will not be a victim of circumstances. The whole world may be in darkness, but you are the light of the world, and you will shine in the midst of darkness. Let us pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, I boldly declare I am well able to overcome every obstacle facing me in Jesus' name. Amen and amen.»