Can or cannot? Possible or impossible? Opportunities or problems? These phrases represent the daily choices we make – how we choose to think and live – how we choose to respond to life circumstances and events. Will we approach life from a positive or negative perspective?
Many folks live a very restricted and limited life because of a negative mindset. Negative thinking results in negative reactions to the situations and challenges we experience. Negative reactions create more negative situations. Negativism causes us to perpetuate problems and pain. Wonderful things happen when we decisively and doggedly develop a spirit of faith.
David was a man who lived with a positive spirit of faith. I recently noticed a passage that gives us some insight into David’s spirit:
1 Chronicles 11:4, 5 (NIV) “David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem ... The Jebusites who lived there said to David, ‘You will not get in here.’ Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, the city of David.”
Later in the chapter we find this additional comment:
1 Chronicles 11:9 (NIV) “And David became more and more powerful, because the Lord Almighty was with him.”
When David decided to capture Jerusalem and make it Israel’s capital city, the people who lived there sent word to David that his plan would not work. They tried to convince David that taking their city would never happen. It could not be done. David would fail if he tried.
True to spiritual form, David ignored the negative words of doom and impossibility. I love the words the Bible uses to describe David’s response to these folks, “Nevertheless, David captured the fortress ...”
David was a man of faith. He was a man with a positive spirit. He was not moved by external obstacles or naysayers. He believed that God’s plan was possible, and he acted on his beliefs. His faith inspired others to follow (read the rest of the chapter). Not only did David’s belief bring him great rewards, it lifted other people to higher levels of life and accomplishment for the glory of God. It also attracted God’s help and favor. David believed that God was leading him, and that God could and would help him. And God did!
Whatever we are facing, let’s remember, “Yes, God can!” And because God can, we can!
Pastor Dale
