In the last blog I offered some insight into how to live with a limitless mind. I was, of course referring to God’s mind vs. our mind. I made the statement,
“To live with a limitless mind, you have to recognize that your mind has limits, but God’s mind is limitless.”
People are quick to acknowledge this. They are less quick to consider how God chooses to acknowledge this. The way man approach this is to say, “God’s ways are higher than mine. There is no way for me to under stand what the future holds, therefore, I will just live my life and let Him unfold His desire for me.” The truth is that God has a desired future for you, but His desire for your future is that you use the creative ability He has given you to birth a future and a destiny. He does not simply carve it out for you so that you can live through it in a robotic fashion. He created a habitat in which you dwell, parameters in which you live life, and then a mandate to have dominion in that life. To rule in the parameters He has assigned to you.
I shared about how our own mindset can limit us. But the other mindset enemy of our destiny is found in the mind of others. Many a dream has been cancelled or outright killed by those who live us most. If the limitations of your mind can stop you in your tracks, the limitations of the mind of others can do so with equal effectiveness.
How others limit us.
Paul offers an example of how the mentality of others can dissuade us in the pursuit of our cause. Such mentality can be born of fear. It can also be born of common sense. In his case, he faced a dilemma because the man who voiced his opposition was a respected prophetic voice and likely an intercessor to Paul’s ministry. Paul made an announcement that he was going to travel to Jerusalem. Agabus, a prophet walked over to Paul, removed Paul’s belt, and with great demonstration, bound Paul’s hands with the belt. He then prophesied “for the man who owns this belt, bondage awaits him if he travels to Jerusalem.” His words apparently disturbed others on hearing because Paul’s response reached past the prophet to a group of people. He basically said, “Why do you break my heart with your tears. I am going to Jerusalem, regardless of what you believe or what God has told you. I am aware of what God has told me to do and that is what I am determined to do, even if means my incarceration or death.”
It was not that these people had missed God. It was that they did not comprehend Paul’s determination to fulfill the mission assigned to his heart by God. Well-meaning people often do this. They look at the limitations they see in you and try to “talk some sense into you.” They remind you of your short-comings (real or perceived) and labor to convince you that you have missed God.
Others can also limit you by trying to keep you tied to their dream.
If the picture they have created includes you, and if God speaks to you to reach beyond what their dream holds, you can rest assured that a battle will ensue. Your determination to stand not only presents a challenge with regard to your future, it now flies a flag in the face of theirs because if the direction to which God is leading you removes you from their scope, then one of you has missed God…
...or have you?
Paul and Barnabus suffered a break over the training of John Mark, yet at the end, there was obviously enough common purpose and communication that Paul sent for John Mark upon his own death. There was obviously a change in the plan, but also, purpose was ultimately fulfilled and the relationship appeared to remain intact.
I shared much of this, both to my local congregation and also to the churches in Mexico. A couple of days ago, I was reminded of a message preached by a dear friend regarding the end of Moses’ life. Moses was given a specific assignment to lead Israel out of Egypt and slavery and into the Promised Land. They journeyed a short while, located the land, only to allow their mindset to steal them of their blessing. Fear gripped them and “common sense” settled in. For their consolation, they spent the next 40 years running in circles, wandering in a wilderness.
Israel still experienced the blessing of God. They still prospered. They knew His presence – everything a good modern day believer strives for. Yet, they were wandering in circles in the wilderness.
There were numerous times when Israel displeased God with their rebellion, but one in particular captured his attention. They complained to Moses about being stuck where they were. They demanded water. God instructed Moses on how to produce the water they needed (yet another miracle) but as Israel continued to complain, Moses demanded, “Must I continue to do everything for you?” Instead of exalting the Name of the Lord and speaking to the rock as God had instructed, Moses announced he was going to fix the problem (again) and he struck the rock. Water came forth. God honored Moses efforts. But, God told Moses that the plans had changed, neither he nor the rebellious generation of Israel was going to be allowed to participate in the completion of the promised. That blessing would be shifted to the next generation. Moses id not get to do all that he was destined to do because he allowed his frustration over the actions of others to dictate his actions. Their failings became his failings and the promise offered would be passed on.
God is merciful. He allowed Moses to realize that the work he had done would not be in vain. At the end of his life, around 120 years, Moses was strong enough to climb Mt. Nebo, where God allowed him with his naked eye to see the width and breadth of the Promised Land. Some would say that Moses did not finish well, yet as my friend demonstrated, Moses had the strength to view the promise as it would be fulfilled. He was counted in the hall of faith.
Moses let the people of Israel know that he had allowed their mindset to affect his judgment and that the price for that was the dream changed…or rather, his portion of the dream changed. It did not stop the plans and purpose of God. Everything they worked for would still come into fruition, just in a different capacity, to a different generation.
The mindset or mentality of others can affect the outcome of your life. In the same way, your mentality can affect the outcome of the lives of others. To live beyond the limits is to live under the influence of a limitless God. To do that, you have to be willing to break free of the shackles of the limited minds you encounter as well as the one owned by the person in your mirror.
