By Dr. John Ed Mathison
Executive Director
John Ed Mathison Leadership Ministries
All of us face tough times and difficult situations in life. We are walking down the hallway
of life and turn a corner and all of a sudden we are stopped dead in our tracks by something we didn’t expect. It can either cause us to turn around and run, or serve to help us face life with confidence.
God never puts us in situations that He doesn’t provide the things necessary to face those situations. The witness of the Bible and history is that people of faith have confidently put their trust in God and discovered that apparent stumbling blocks can be turned into stepping stones.
One good way to face this is what I refer to as the “Yet Mindset.” I was recently reading in the Book of Habakkuk because of a devotional by my friend Mark Sartain. Not often do I read that book as devotional literature. Habakkuk and the people of Israel were facing some really tough times. They rounded a corner and faced a depressing situation. Habakkuk declares, “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails and the fields lie empty and baron; even though the flocks die in the fields and the cattle barns are empty!” (Habakkuk 3:17) That is a tough situation.
But Habakkuk had a “Yet Mindset.” He said, “Yet I will wait patiently.” Notice that little three letter word “Yet.” After cataloging the tough situation he says, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in the God of my salvation.” The “Yet Mindset” prepares us to wait patiently and rejoice for the upcoming victory that God is going to provide.
The “Yet Mindset” begins in the mind. It is connected to our thinking. Henry Ford once said, “If you think you can or if you think you can’t, you are right.” The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Philippi and said, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5) It is how we think.
We can never change our actions until we change our minds. We can never make progress in life until we make some changes. George Bernard Shaw said, “Progress is impossible without change; and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”
A “Yet Mindset” is about a mindset of confident waiting and rejoicing. The “Yet Mindset” is not one that just helps us get by the best we can. It is a victorious mindset. It is not a mindset that is trying to stay close and play a good game, or even trying to tie the game – it is a mindset of how God wants to give us victory. David writes, “Trouble will last for only a second, but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay all night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5) “You have turned my crying into joyful dancing; you have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy.” (Psalm 30:11)
Look how Habakkuk closes out his book. His last words were the result of his “Yet Mindset” when he says, “The Lord is my strength. He will make my feet like the feet of a deer, and will make me walk in the high places.” (Habakkuk 3:19) Wow! Feet like a deer and walking in high places. The “Yet Mindset” declares, “Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.” (I John 4:4) Paul had the “Yet Mindset” when he affirmed; I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:3)
Let God help you get the “Yet Mindset.”
John Ed’s blog posts appear each week in For His Glory.
Contact: JAM Executive Suite 4,4131 Carmichael Road, Montgomery, AL 36106 Phone: 334-270-2149 Email:info@johnedmathison.org
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