You Made That Up

We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too! Numbers 13:33

Have you ever went “fishing” for a compliment? Tell me if this sounds familiar:

You put on this fly new outfit and walk in front of your significant other or friends only to hope they tell you that you look good. When they don’t say anything, you get annoyed or even sad. Seeing the disappointment on your face or picking up on your now “attitude,” they ask you what is wrong. You tell them you were hoping they would comment on your new outfit. Out comes the famous line, “I can’t read your mind!” as they admonish you for not just asking. This happens when you eat the last piece of chicken they want, sit in the seat they were trying to occupy, and any number of other misunderstandings.

If we are sure that we cannot read someone else’s mind, then why are there times when we think we can?

Have you ever told yourself what someone else was thinking? How about making a decision based on what you thought they would say, think, or feel?

We use “I can’t read your mind” when it’s convenient for us.

We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them, we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too! Numbers 13:33

When Moses sent the 12 spies into the land of Canaan to survey the land, they came back and told the people what someone else thought! How do I know? Spies don’t reveal themselves. They don’t communicate with the people they are spying on. The Bible says that 10 leaders came back and gave an “evil” report. I have always wondered why the word 'evil' is used to describe the leaders’ report. Today, it hit me. How did they know what the inhabitants of Caanan thought?

They didn’t.

The report was evil because it was a lie. They repeated the lie they told themselves as if it were fact. They didn’t know what the inhabitants of Caanan thought about them; they assumed because the leaders felt they were small, others would too.

How many lies have you told yourself and made choices as if they were facts?

I encourage you to challenge your thoughts. If you can't read people's minds or tell the future and you find yourself assuming, stop and ask, 'Who told me that’?

If you have not heard that from the ’horse’s mouth,’ then you should not make choices in what you do, how you think, what you believe, and what you feel.

Don’t make it up.

Seek God, his wisdom, and discernment when you find yourself hesitant, unsure, or anxious, just like the father whose son was possessed by evil spirits. He wanted to believe in the power of Jesus but felt Jesus couldn’t help his son. Who told him that? He would have never asked Jesus in the first place if he hadn't heard about his other miracles and believed his son could also be saved. But the lie was in his mind anyway. What saved his son was the fact that he knew he didn't have the faith he needed.

So, he asked.

“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:23-24

If you want to believe what God said but struggle, ask God to help your unbelief.