Both of them are only talking from different angles. One sees the positive side of it; it may not be full yet, but I still thank G.o.d because it is still not empty. The other sees nothing but the fact that G.o.d did not make the cup full. The two of them are right but one is positive while the other is negative. If all you see in life is the negative side of things, you will soon get to the level of despondency. And not too long, even the three quarter that is there will no longer be meaningful to you. Don't allow the devil to exaggerate situations for you.

In Numbers 13 and 14, twelve men were sent to spy the land of promise. Though the land was so much within their reach in destiny, but the land was so far in the mind of ten of them. Though they had left the land of Egypt, Egypt did not leave their minds. They saw good fruits in the land of Canaan but they were disappointed because G.o.d didn't tell them that they will meet giants there. G.o.d only painted to them what He wanted them to know.

G.o.d does not need to tell you about difficulties because no difficulty could stop His plans; He is an expert in handling difficulties. If only you will see things the way He wants you to see them, you will overcome all challenges and possess what is yours at last.

It is only foolishness that will make a man magnify what is temporal for what is real. Fact and truth are different. The fact is the situation which is obvious but fact can later change to truth. Between the fact and truth is understanding. If you understand G.o.d, facts of life can give way for the truth of the word of G.o.d.

The Bible devil is a defeated devil but he fights us in the battle of our mind; in your imagination and in your thinking. And no one can help you fight the devil in this area than yourself; n.o.body can help you fight the devil in your mind than you. In Numbers 13, only two out of the twelve came back with positive results. Ten saw giants and saw themselves as gra.s.shoppers; two saw the Canaanites as bread and the Israelites as being victorious because they were on the side of G.o.d; knowing full well that since G.o.d was for them, anyone against them will just be wasting their time.

And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

Numbers 13:30-31

Same group of people embarked on the same journey at the same time, but they saw things differently; they had different perspectives. One saw the enemy as bread, the other saw the enemy as giants. One saw themselves as victors, the other saw themselves as gra.s.shoppers.

They even exaggerated the issue; if the inhabitant of the land had eaten people up as they claimed, how come it didn't eat them up? You will only see whatever you magnify; if you see your challenges as insurmountable, so be it; but if you see your challenges too little for your big G.o.d, then, so be it. Instead of seeing problems, see miracle; instead of seeing danger, see opportunity.

You don't have a future without an enemy. David would have died an ordinary shepherd boy if not for the giant he fought; so, enemies are doors to your new season. Instead of murmuring and complaining, see challenges as divine opportunity for your promotion. No one will be a champion without fighting a battle; you must be a giant-killer before your victory can be celebrated.

Remember, issues of life are temporary so let your hope in G.o.d be intact.

Faith infects just like discouragement. That is why it is your fault if you allow wrong people around you. This is because people's opinion does not leave you the same. That is the more reason you should find a.s.sociation among those who are encouragers; thank G.o.d for Joshua and Caleb who encouraged the people. George Was.h.i.+ngton once said ' a.s.sociate yourself with those of good quality if you esteem your own reputation for it is better to be alone than to be in bad company'.

Elisha spoke to Jehoshaphat when he was in the company of the sons of Ahab; looking for solution to the problem of lack of water. Elisha saw righteous Jehoshaphat in the company of the unG.o.dly and he didn't hide his feelings about it.

And Elisha said, As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.

II Kings 3:14

People around you don't leave you the same. The ten elders in the book of Numbers went round the camp discouraging others and there are people like that all over. They won't go yet, they won't allow those who want to go to go.

G.o.d killed the ten elders that brought evil report to the camp despite all the privileges they had; they had a foretaste of the Promised Land and they were trusted with the destiny of the whole nation. But they never walked in faith, they lost their hope and they couldn't rely on G.o.d again.

They forgot the G.o.d that delivered them from Egypt, who opened the Red Sea, who gave them manna, the G.o.d that increased their clothes as they were growing in age, who renewed their shoes such that it did not wear out for the whole forty years they were in the wilderness.

Some have never thought of what G.o.d did for the Israelites to that level. The Israelites were not only rescued from the bondage and oppression of the Egyptians, they had all their things increased in size and renewed throughout the forty years journey.

G.o.d a.s.signed heavenly shoe makers and heavenly tailors to amend their shoes and clothes so that by the time they wake up in the morning, their clothes and shoes will fit them; and would be their exact size. In spite of all these, they allowed discouragement because of bad reports from the ten elders. See the effect of being in the wrong company:

And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.

Numbers 14:1

The whole camp did a vigil of weeping because of the report they heard from the ten spies and what followed was murmuring, frustration, hopelessness which was evident in what they said.

And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would G.o.d that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would G.o.d we had died in this wilderness.

Numbers 14:2

When Moses, Caleb and Joshua who saw what G.o.d wanted them to see came to the people to encourage them, hear their response:

But all the congregation bade stone them with stones.

Numbers 14:10

Can you imagine the congregation wanted to kill their leader? They wanted to kill and go back to Egypt; forgetting that behind them is the Red Sea which they have to cross. If they had thought deeply, they wouldn't have dared G.o.d. Though it was G.o.d's plan to bless them, but He couldn't bless them except with their cooperation.

Beloved, do you also know that what you have been today are what you have allowed G.o.d to do in your life? Late Kenneth Hagin said 'if G.o.d has done for you little, that is what you deserve; all you are and all you have become in life are based on what you have believed and said in the past.' It therefore means the ball is not in the court of G.o.d but in yours; it is what you see/perceive that you will have.

What do you perceive? What are you seeing about your tomorrow? Are you seeing nothing but danger, death and calamity or do you see the goodness of G.o.d? Do you see life from the standpoint of heaven? It helps to release you from the bondage of thinking it is over when heaven says it is not over. Don't say it is over when G.o.d says He is just beginning.

The book of Judges tells us of the life of Gideon. Gideon came from a poor family and the Midianites were terrorizing the children of Israel because of the sin of Israel. Whatever the Israelites planted, the Midianites came to ravish and destroy them and the children of Israel became very poor. In the midst of this, G.o.d intervened.

And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him and said to him, the Lord is with you, you mighty man of fearless courage.

Judges 6: 12

In the eye of man, someone hiding from the enemies cannot be called a mighty man. Gideon saw himself as weak but G.o.d saw him differently. G.o.d sees you in the light of your destiny, not your circ.u.mstance. G.o.d does not see you in your problem; He sees you in your destiny.

We all see today but G.o.d sees your end. Sometimes because of challenges that look overwhelming, you see yourself as n.o.body but G.o.d doesn't waste His time making a n.o.body. G.o.d was not discouraged by the complaints of Gideon; hear the response of Jehovah G.o.d:

And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

Judges 6:14

Never lose your hope.