PAMELA CARMICHAEL

Need A Blessing? Then Ask

PamelaUpdated on 29 March, 201328 February, 20132 Comments4 min read

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Now it was so, when she came to him, that she persuaded him to ask her father for a field. So she dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you wish?” ¹⁹She answered, “Give me a blessing; since you have given me land in the South, give me also springs of water.” So he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs. —Joshua 15:18-19

This account of Caleb’s daughter requesting a blessing is recorded twice in the Word. (Joshua 15:18-19, Judges 1:14-15). At first glance this appears to be a seemingly simple request of a daughter to her father but when you consider this more closely, we can learn a few things from Achsah.

1. Identify Your Need

Achsah had already received land in the South from her father. Now she wanted more. She wanted springs of water. My first thoughts, “Lord, she already has, what more could she want?” But really she was asking for what would sustain and complement the previous one – springs of water would help water the land.

What blessing do you need? What extra in life do you need to help you live a healthier, happier, longer life? What do you need to help you succeed?

2. Go To the Source

Ask of the one who is able to give it. Achsah knew her dad had what she needed. She knew her dad was able to give it. And she knew if she wanted it, she would have to ask him for it. So she went boldly asking and expecting to receive it and she did.

Who do you need to ask for your blessing? Is your need something that no one else but God would be able to fill? God your Father is able to give and He is willing to give but you need to ask. Just as Caleb was willing to give to his daughter, God is will to give to you.

3. Expect the Blessing

As children we often asked our parents for many things never thinking that we would not receive them. I don’t believe that Achsah went to her father thinking that she wouldn’t receive the springs of water. She went expecting to receive the blessing. Faith says that you believe that God is and that He will bless you when you ask Him.

When you pray do you believe that God will give you what you need? Or do you ask but deep within you don’t think that God will honour your request? Ask and believe in the ability, availability and willingness of your heavenly Father God to bless you.

The word of God has examples of many who asked God for a blessing and they received it. To name just two:

Jacob (Genesis 32:22-32) – You would think that Jacob was satisfied. Going to Laban he had nothing but leaving him he had for more than imaginable – a family and great wealth. Yet he wrestled with God to bless him. Why? There was a deeper need – no more to be considered by others as a schemer. He wanted a change in identity and only God could do that. As big as that request was, God blessed him and changed his life forever.

Jabez (1 Chron. 4:9-10) – A more honorable man than his brothers, yet Jabez asked God to bless him. He too desired change; he did not want to be known by his name. He did not want to live in pain or to cause pain to others. Jabez asked and God granted his request.

Now back to us. Jesus tells us to ask because He wants us to be joyful (John 16:24), ask even though God already knows your need (Matthew 6:8), ask for our daily needs (Matthew 6:11), ask for wisdom (James 1:5), ask until you receive (Luke 18:1-8). The point is you need to ask. The need you have – good health, financial success, stronger or restore relationships, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, favor with people, additional income streams, career change – is the blessing you need to ask for.

What do you need in your life that would improve or make a significant difference to the way you live now? Today, ask for your blessing and expect to receive it.

Spiritual Success Success Habits

A Life of Gratitude: Free Kindle Book & Giveaway

Pamela 27 February, 201327 February, 20133 min read

By Shelley Hitz

Download on Kindle

FREE on 2/27/13 & 2/28/13

From the Author:

During a season of transition in my life, I found myself overwhelmed with negative emotions like self-pity and a complaining spirit. It was as if a dark cloud had descended over me. I prayed and asked God for wisdom on how to overcome these negative emotions. As I did, I sensed Him leading me to do a 21 day gratitude challenge.

Over the course of the 21 days, God began to change me as I spent intentional time being grateful for all I had been given. I did this through writing in my journal each day and also sending a hand-written thank you note to someone different each day. This also led me to writing out 21 prayers of gratitude and compiling 21 stories of gratitude.

I want to share what I learned with you in the pages of this book which includes:

21 Days of Gratitude Challenge
21 Prayers of Gratitude
21 Stories of Gratitude

What to Expect On Each Day:

Read my personal stories, struggles and reflections.
Read one scripture and one quote about gratitude.
Apply one personal application step from the challenge.
Read one prayer of gratitude
Read one story of gratitude

Get Accountability and Encouragement

Along with the 21 day challenge, I also started a private Facebook group to provide accountability and encouragement for myself but also for others who decide to join me in the challenge. You will get access to this group as well. It has been amazing to see God at work in each of our lives.

Will you join me on this journey to gratitude?

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Shelley Hitz

Shelley Hitz is an award-winning and international best-selling author. Her openness and vulnerability as she shares her own story of hope and healing through her books will inspire and encourage you.

Shelley has been ministering alongside her husband, CJ, since 1998. They currently travel and speak to teens and adults around the country. Shelley’s main passion is to share God’s truth and the freedom in Christ she has found with others. She does this through her books, websites and speaking engagements.

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Success Keys

God Honors Your Words

PamelaUpdated on 22 January, 201622 February, 20133 min read

Then Joshua charged them at that time, saying, “Cursed be the man before the Lord who rises up and builds this city Jericho; he shall lay its foundation with his firstborn, and with his youngest he shall set up its gates.” — Joshua 6:26

Speak life

In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation with Abiram his firstborn, and with his youngest son Segub he set up its gates, according to the word of the Lord, which He had spoken through Joshua the son of Nun. —1 Kings 16:34

This short record of Joshua’s words after the defeat of Jericho says so much about the words we speak.

Our words when spoken under the direction of the Lord have great power. It does not matter how long ago the words were spoken, when mixed with faith, whatever was said will happen.

God honors His own words and whatever He says, He does. Searching through the Scriptures, men spoke and God honored their words.

The dreams Joseph and others had which he interpreted all happened as he said
Moses spoke to Pharaoh according to God’s instruction and whatever he said would happen to Egypt happened.
Whatever Jacob blessing was to his twelve sons, or Moses, Joshua and others prophesied to Israel came to pass
The words Jesus spoke to us have and continue to unfold before our eyes today

It is wonderful to know that God honors what we say. However, we should be careful what speak since our words produce life or death (Proverbs 18:21). The daily conversation we have with others and with the Lord shape our destiny and the future of those who we speak of either negatively or positively.

The fact is your words:

Shape your life
Have power
Can change your world
Impact other people’s lives
Bring healing or hurt
Create life or death
Determine the course of your life

You choose what you get by what you say. Therefore choose your words carefully.

If you choose living words, then you must also have confidence about what you say. Can you imagine commanding to the sun and the moon to stand still and they do (Joshua )? You can only command great things if you’re confident that God will make it happen. But sometimes we think that our words don’t have an effect or that God does not hear them. Even if we prayer, speak, command we lack the faith that by our very words God will act for us. Sometimes our expectation is so low and does not match what we say. But powerful words can move a huge mountain (Matthew 17:20).

Think about it this way: Jesus spent a major part of his ministry speaking – words, words, words and more words. To heal he spoke, to bless a child he spoke, to deliver someone he spoke, to teach the principles of the kingdom of God he spoke. In the midst of his teaching we learn that His words are life and are spirit (John 6:63). We read how every one of His words and actions were God-honored.

Since we stand as the representatives of the great God, created in His image, our words too are spirit and are life. And our words are those that God will honor. But remember; speak words of life to yourself and others. Choose life. Be a blessing through your speech.

What can we do to continually speak life-giving words to ourselves and others?

Success Keys

Acknowledge God

Pamela 08 February, 201308 February, 20134 min read

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Last year my great-aunt went home to the Lord at the age of 103. I considered her the bedrock of our family and a strong woman. I admired her love and faith in the Lord. She always had a word of encouragement to give and for sure she would always direct you the word of God. Proverbs 3: 5-6 was one scripture embedded in our minds because Aunt Manie would always quote it to you.

Looking back I realized that her words and her life have influenced me in my Christian walk a great deal. I have held to these words and even more so when life is extra challenging.

God wants us to acknowledge Him in all our ways. Yes, God wants us to seek His will in all we do. In every move we make, in every step we take, in every decision, in every thought, in every word, in every act – the Lord wants us to recognize His sovereignty over us and seek Him to direct us. He desires us to involve Him in every aspect of our lives – in all we do, our daily activities, and our plans. No aspect of our lives must be left to us alone.

As much as this scripture is so well-known and for us in this family we have probably heard it more than others, it is often taken lightly. We need to make sure that God is the central point of our focus. I may have said this before but if we expect to see daily success in our lives we need to know how to acknowledge God in all we do.

Daily connection through prayer: We need to rise up early and seek Him. Tell God your plans for the day, the week, the month, the year and beyond. He can handle it. Ask Him to show you the best way to go about living a life that pleases Him. Ask for His anointing to do the insurmountable things that he has called you do. Also seek His anointing to carry out your day-to-day responsibilities in your roles as parent, employer, employee, business owner, sibling, child or any task you do.

Let the Word be your guide: The Bible is your life’s compass. God designed His word to answer the simple as well as difficult questions of life. It is your navigator whether the seas of life are calm or there are storms raging. It will tell you what to do. Follow its instruction and you will succeed in whatever you do (Joshua 1: 7-8).

Seek Godly counsel: Our aunt was a woman of wisdom and at times she would have a word of encouragement or express the unexpected but timely advise you really needed to hear. Scripture tells us that there is safety in counsel of many. Through Godly relationships and the teachings we receive in our various congregations we can receive the wisdom we need to triumph through life’s challenges. When we see believe God’s word spoken through others, God will give us success (2 Chronicles 20:20).

Trust God completely: Consider your wisdom as nothing (Proverbs 3:7). Do whatever God says whether you like it or not (Ananias was not keen about meeting Saul). Do whatever God says whether it makes sense or not (Joshua walked around the Jericho’s wall in silence at God’s direction). My Aunt Manie still trusted God even after her legs were amputated. She still prayed, went to church when she could, didn’t complain, became more of an encourager to the family and others and still worshiped God every day and had the most positive outlook on life.

Seeking God’s will in all you do isn’t necessarily an easy thing to do but do it anyway. We can reap every day success if we rely on our Creator God to show us how.

Do you seek Him in everything you do?

Success Keys

A Few Ways to Deal with Setbacks

PamelaUpdated on 13 January, 201601 February, 20136 Comments5 min read

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A few days before a much-anticipated vacation, I hurt my back. I didn’t realize how much this mishap could affect me and my last day of work – because I ignored what was happening – I was in excruciating pain with every step I took. So my vacation was not vacation. The plans I had to finish set my goals for the year, to learn about and improve my blog and to decide my strategy for my personal finance book were put on hold. Since sitting for an extended period proved to be painful, it was frustrating not be able to do most of what I had planned.

However, thank God, I soon came to realize that I needed to deal with this setback by working on getting better so I could more forward sooner rather than later. As the days passed, I adopted a few ways handle this setback. I hope as I share with you, you will pick one or two to help you through your personal challenges.

Connect with God more.

Pray more; read more and listen more. I take this advice from a friend who broke her ankle and had to stay indoors for weeks. As she shared with me her experience I felt her joy because she took to opportunity to grow closer to God during this time.

You may not pray with the same energy or vigor that you normally do but pray anyway. Let God know how you feel, ask for His blessing on your situation whatever it be and trust Him to come through for you. Read more of the Bible and of other books that would encourage you and help you deal with your setback. Read that stash of books that you have promised to get to you a while. Be sure to read what builds your faith. Watch more or listen more to the word of God or to Christ centered programs whether via TV, the internet, DVDs, CDs. Just take every opportunity to get the word of God in you.

Laugh at life and yourself too.

One of my friends who had cancer had an amazing attitude towards life. She enjoyed and appreciated the little things. Some days she was felt stronger than others. On those good days she would tell you that she could move a mountain. What was her mountain? She would go outside, pick up a stone and tell you that that’s her mountain and smile about it. Although her situation was very serious she found something to laugh and be thankful for.

Although the situation may be serious you still need to smile. We have a saying that if you don’t laugh you will cry and it’s true. Sometimes you need to remove heavy weights with some laughter. Laughter makes the setbacks and frustrations we face more bearable (Proverbs 17:22).

Appreciate everything.

Keep a prayer and praise journal. This practice will help you stay thankful. Consider taking ten minutes every day to write down at least three things you are most thankful for. Send a thank you note to someone with a small gift or call and let them know how much you appreciate them.

The day-to-day activities of life plus the challenge of dealing with an unexpected setback could cause you to become a complainer. Take time during the difficult season to appreciate what God has done and is doing. Even though you may not see the changes you want now, praising God in advance of receiving them will bring you peace of mind.

Don’t worry.

It is so much easier said that done. But try not to worry about how much your current situation has made your life more difficult or challenging. Don’t worry about how much you have to do or how much you haven’t done. Worry does nothing but elevate your problem and causes you further emotional damage.

God remedy for worry is prayer and thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6-7). Ask God to help you through the rough spots and to help you make far more progress when you are again in a position to move forward on your goals and the vision He has given to you. Thankful prayer will release His peace into your heart and protect your mind so you can deal with where you are effectively.

Keep dreaming.

A setback has a way of making you think negatively about your life and the goals you have set. But please keep dreaming and don’t allow any situation to mar your vision.

On a sick-bed, in financial difficult, at the lost of a loved one, when there’s no income, when children are being rebellious, when plans go array – God is still in control. When you are asleep, He is at work. When you are ill and unable to do much, He is at work. He is able to act when you can’t. So dream on and give your dreams to God. When you commit your ways to Him, He will establish your thoughts (Proverbs 16:3). That is, He will give you direction. He will help you, strengthen you and give you success.

Remember, although the enemy meant it for evil, God has the power to change every situation around for your good. God can turn every set back, frustration, every device of the enemy around to good for you and for others.

As the saying goes behind every dark cloud there is a silver lining. Therefore, look at every setback, negative circumstance with excitement and anticipation. Begin to wonder in your heart what good the Lord allow to come out of it as a blessing to you and others.

What do you do when face with an unexpected and unpleasant situation?

Financial Empowerment Financial Success

Financial Empowerment Quiz

PamelaUpdated on 13 January, 201621 January, 20131 min read

Check out the Financial Empowerment page for more details.

Thinking Success

Think Prosperously

Pamela 17 January, 201317 January, 20134 min read

What kind of thoughts normally enter into your mind? Are they good or bad? When someone compliments you, do you counter it with words like, “Really, I don’t think so,” or “That’s nice to say but I am not really like that.”? When you are pursuing your goals do you often think that you are going to fail?

Prevailing negative, demeaning, limiting, unhealthy and sinful thoughts have a way of entering into our minds quite easily:

The world system: We are bombarded daily with negativity via television, radio, newspapers, internet, organizations and people.

Our sinful nature: We have an uncanny yet natural tendency to think and act negatively too. Even when we have accepted Christ our negative thoughts and ways can continue to prevail unless we constantly renew our minds.

Our immediate environment: Have you realized that when you were younger, you believed you could do anything and actually did most of the time? But as you grew into adulthood, your mindset shifted. Our family, friends, work colleagues and other people have shaped our belief system. The sad thing is we have learned from most of them to simply let life happen and don’t seek to change. Or someone told us not dream too big or try too hard at anything because they don’t want us to get disappointed if we fail.

The reality is this; we kill our dreams within before we even get started. We believe more in lie that in truth. We think we will fail more than succeed. We expect to struggle and not to prosper. But the truth is God wants the best for us. Recently, the Lord really impressed on my heart to diligently counter every negative thought of frustration, setback, failure, and lack with His Word. His Word is filled with promises of positive outcomes, success, prosperity, abundance, good health, strong families, great relationships and more. Regardless of the negativity around us, God actively works to bring everything in alignment to His will and for our benefit (Gen. 50:20). As a child of God, your focus should be on succeeding or prospering in whatever you are doing.

A few weeks ago, I was sharing with a friend about my book and the effort I need to put into marketing and promoting this work. As I was outlining the industry suggested time lines to begin seeing a certain level of success with the book, she stopped me in my tracks. She reminded me that although it is good to learn the market and how it works, I must view this all from God’s perspective. I should do the work and trust God to prosper what I am doing. I should always put God in the midst of everything I am doing to have good success.

Psalm 1:1-3 says that if we don’t do evil but find or have pleasure in God and His word, He will make us prosperous in what we do. He will bring our work to maturity or cause it to be successful. Other scriptures like Joshua 1:8, Jeremiah 29:11, 3 John 1:2 remind us to connect with God, know His word intimately (eat, drink and sleep His word), live out loud His word and He will cause our lives to prosper.

God’s Word says you can succeed in life but do you believe this truth? You can say all the right words. You can do all the right things. But what you believe determines what you will achieve and receive. Remember, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Furthermore, God blesses you based on and above what you ask or think.

Therefore approach everything you do believing that God will help you to succeed. Rearrange your thoughts to accept that whatever you do shall prosper. Think prosperously.

How do you counter thoughts of failure? What helps you to keep thinking in line with God’s good will for you?

Success Habits Success Keys Success Traits

10 Ways to Move Forward in the New Year

PamelaUpdated on 16 January, 201604 January, 20135 min read

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I like this time of year. Yes, it is filled with much excitement. However, I also like it because it’s an opportunity to start afresh. The New Year is a new season, a new beginning. It’s a time to keep moving forward but with renewed hope and energy.

As I look back on the year it was indeed for me a Year of New Beginnings. The Lord helped me to make some new and wonderful starts in my life. I started a new job, began a blog, purchased a much-needed vehicle, worked hard at completing the writing, editing, and interior and cover design for my new book and published the e-book in December. I achieved more than I expected but frankly it was all that I desired.

As I reflect on last yer there were some habits I developed and things I did which I will continue to do in this year. I hope that by sharing these you too will adopt one or two of them to help you through this year:

Step out in faith. Do that thing you have always wanted to but didn’t because you were afraid that it won’t work or that people would laugh at you. Whatever was holding you back don’t let it anymore. Faith requires corresponding action.
Start and continue with prayer. Try to keep a visual of your yearly goals (in short form) in your Bible, on your cell phone, on your computer desktop or even on your fridge door. At church the Senior Pastor challenges us to write our goals and to present them before the Lord even before the New Year begins. With those goals in hand, throughout the year, as you work at them you would also pray about them. What goals would you like to accomplish this year?
Put fasting in the mix. It’s a good practice spend some time at the beginning of the year before the Lord. Although I normally spend time in January reading through the Bible, in 2012 I added fasting. I felt that I needed to know the heart of God concerning many areas of my life. Prayer along with fasting helped me to focus more on the Lord’s will for my life.
Keep working steadily. It takes discipline and diligence to keep working toward your goals. Sure, we are not perfect and we may at times fall off track but we have to get back up and start moving again. Revive yourself if you have slackened your pace and start again.
Trust God to help you. Don’t rely on your strength. I like Isaiah 41:10. God promises to help me and strengthen me. I need that reminder very often. Sometimes we can get discouraged and become afraid of those things that are seemingly bigger than us, we need to remember that God is with us and will help us. Not only that He will sustain us and give us success.
Take short breaks. Refresh yourself. I am always on the go and sometimes find myself too exhausted. I have experienced the benefits of taking short breaks – sometimes just 15 minutes during the day is enough to recharge me.
Don’t beat yourself up. If you don’t accomplish the goal when, where and how you want to, make adjustments and keep moving forward to your goal. Tell yourself that you can make it instead of being hard on yourself.
Ask God for favor. You need His goodness all the time and you need others to show kindness to you too. It starts with asking God to touch the hearts of others to help you in your daily activities.
Make adjustments. I can’t begin to mention how many times I changed my timeline for publishing my first book. With family commitments, other responsibilities and the unexpected events of life, I had to make changes along the way but still I was able to achieve what I wanted. Changing course does not mean giving up. A traffic diversion does not mean you won’t reach your intended destination.
Give thanks along the way. Sometimes we can get caught up in the busyness of life and forget to honor God with thanksgiving. As I mentioned in an earlier post, create seasons throughout the year to review and celebrate where you are, where you’ve been and where you are going. Pause (Selah) and think about how God has helped you and give Him thanks for His blessings.

I plan to continue using these habits and principles during this year. I hope you will too. This year, keep moving forward. Challenge yourself and set goals that take you outside of the box. Expect the goodness and mercies of the Lord to follow you and overtake you.

This year may the blessings of the Lord increase in your life and His goodness be more real to you. Happy New Year!

Financial Empowerment Financial Success

God’s Provision Ahead

PamelaUpdated on 13 January, 201613 December, 20123 min read

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When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

—Matthew 2:9-11 (NKJV)

For Christmas, we have made it a family tradition like others to decorate a Christmas tree. In addition, we would always place the manger scene under the tree to keep us focused on the reason for our celebration. One morning while sitting in the family room, I looked across at that tree and my gaze fell upon figures of the wise men with the gifts. It was then I realized, “God provided for Jesus’ needs the very day He was born. He was the beneficiary of those gifts that were presented.” Then I thought, “God provided for me even before I was born.”

2 Peter 1:3 (AMP) clearly says, “For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue).”

Often times we worry about our needs and wonder if we have enough for now and the future. But throughout Scripture, God has proven to us that He is not only our Creator but He is as a Father who protects, nurtures and sustains us by His power.

God feed us. In Genesis, God planted a garden for us. The earth is filled with food, water, shelter, gold and other precious metals for our use. He has filled our mouths with good things. He satisfies us daily.

God gives us wealth. He wants us to be financially empowered. God did not allow Israel to come out of slavery as an impoverished nation. But they came out with riches having more than enough to build a tabernacle unto the Lord. God delights in our prosperity.

God provides shelter. God makes land and houses for us. He provided a Promised Land with houses and vineyards that Israel did not build nor cultivate. He does the same for us. Many of us are blessed with beautiful houses to live in.

The story of Jesus birth shows God’s Fatherly love for His Son. God provided for Jesus through the wise men. God will also provide for you through similar means as you receive gifts this Christmas season. But beyond this giving and receiving season, God daily provided what you need in many ways. He is constantly bearing gifts on you because He wants the best for you. He is one special Father who knows what you need even before you ask Him (Matthew 6:8).

During Christmas 2012, honor Jesus for the gift He has given – eternal life. Also thank God the Father for daily providing for you. And appreciate the Holy Spirit who has come to guide you and comfort you when you need help.

I thank God for providing in advance for all my needs. Do you recognize how God provides for you even before you ask?

Success Traits

5 Qualities of a Different Spirit

PamelaUpdated on 13 January, 201605 December, 201222 Comments4 min read

But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.

—Numbers 14:24 (NKJV)

What kind of spirit do you have? Would God say that you have a different spirit to other people? Would your family say that you have a good spirit?

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God described Caleb as one who had a different spirit. He was compared his character to the ten men who went with Joshua and Caleb to spy out the Promised Land. Other translations interpret the words “different spirit” as different attitude (NLT, GW) or another spirit (KJV). Whichever way you look at it, Caleb and Joshua because of this spirit or attitude they had were able to receive the promise of God.

In Numbers 13 and 14, we can learn from Joshua’s and Caleb’s actions what it means to have a different spirit. Some of the qualities they expressed were:

A Conquering Attitude – These two were courageous warriors. They were willing and ready to fight.

“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.” Numbers 13:30

A Positive Outlook – Caleb and Joshua saw the possibilities or the opportunities that were ahead of them instead of focusing on the negative.

^“But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes;and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land.” —Numbers 14:6-7

Faith in God – They had complete trust in God to help them succeed. They believed God would do as He had promised.

“If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’” —Numbers 14:8

An Awareness of God’s Presence – Joshua and Caleb knew that the Lord was with them and therefore consider their enemies as already defeated. They recognized that with the presence of God any battle was already won.

“Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.” —Numbers 14:9

Wholeheartedly Serve the Lord – An attitude or a spirit such as theirs comes with this very important quality (Numbers 14:24). No measure of success can be gained without this attribute. It is on account of their different spirit and their full service to God that both Joshua and Caleb not only survived 40 years of wandering in the wilderness but received their inheritance in the Promised Land (Joshua 14:6-15).

The spirit of Joshua and Caleb wasn’t negative in any way. They weren’t fearful of their enemies. They didn’t speak negatively and transfer the spirit of fear to the people of Israel. Instead they spoke with confidence and tried to encourage others not to fear but to believe they could make it with God’s help. What an attitude!

Their attitude is one to imitate if we want to receive the promises that God has for us. If we want to succeed in our Christian walk and experience God’s best then we must work on our attitude.

We must ask God to impart such a spirit in us. This type of spirit has staying power to make it through the tough times. When we carry what God called a different spirit in us, we are likely to overcome all and live victoriously.

Aim for a different spirit.