A study was done that indicated when people were fearful of their economic situation they’re giving decreased by up to 40% from what they had previously been giving.  When we are afraid, we tend to retreat rather than move forward in faith. We become paralyzed because of fear.

When the 12 spies went into the land of Canaan to explore the land and investigate the people who lived there, they saw a land that flowed with milk and honey. At the end of 40 days, they brought back the fruit of the land and reported to the brethren what they had seen.  They reported that the land was fruitful but that is was already occupied by powerful people with large, fortified cities. Ten out of 12 spies concluded that it would be foolish to make an attempt to conquer the land.

Numbers 13:33 (NASB) is a classic verse: “here also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” There are a few critical words in that verse. They became like grasshoppers. It didn’t say they were or that anyone else saw them that way. It says they perceived themselves to be like grasshoppers, which caused them to draw an erroneous conclusion that they were as grasshoppers in the sight of the occupants of the Promised Land.

It is so important to see ourselves as we really are as opposed to how we think others perceive us to be (or even how we perceive ourselves to be). The New Testament says we are “more than conquerors” through Jesus (Romans 8:37). My prayer for each of you is that you see yourselves as God sees you – redeemed from sin, Satan, and self. We are more than conquerors in Jesus, our Lord. I would pray that we are never as the 10 of the 12 spies with a philosophy and belief system of fear. Instead, may we be as the 2 of the 12 who saw themselves as God saw them.