Having an unqualified commitment to fulfill God’s greatest plan
“But because my servant Cale has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.”
— Numbers 14:24 (NIV)
The most important moments of our lives are moments of total commitment. Finishing on top comes from making and maintaining passionate and bold commitments to God and the goals and roles He has for our lives.
A passionate commitment to a God given calling and dream over and entire lifetime will allow you to finish on top. People who live this way have a “Caleb anointing.”
“Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh, the Kenizzite, said to him: “You know the word which the Lord said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh Barnea. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart. Nevertheless, my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the Lord my God. So, Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’
And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel wondered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet, I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke that day; for you heard that day how Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive out as the Lord said.”
— Joshua 14:6-12 (NKJV)
Important observation about Caleb the “Summit Reacher.”
He was from a despised race. It’s not what people label you on the outside that determine where you will end up but who you believe God’s chosen you to be on the inside.
He had every reason to believe he was too old to conquer his mountain but he didn’t.
He held on to his convictions in spite of people overwhelmingly disagreeing with him.
He was part of the mighty minority not the unbelieving majority.
Because of his total commitment, he saw the power of God released to achieve and accomplish for himself and his family what almost no one thought was possible.
Jesus taught us radical abandonment of our own life to do God’s will is the secret to a victorious life.
“Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”
— Luke 9:23 (NLT)
Power is released with total commitment.
“Until one is committed, there is a hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. The moment one definitely commits himself, God moves. All sorts of things occur to help one that never would otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events, meetings, people, unforeseen incidences and material assistance, which no man could’ve dreamed would have begun to appear once a person is committed." — William Hutchison Murray
The joy and satisfaction of your life increases...
“If you only do what others have already done then you will only feel what others have already felt. But if you dare to do something that no one else has ever done, then you’ll have the satisfaction that no one else has ever felt.” — Sir Edmund Hillary
Ways to successfully make a mountain-conquering commitment
1. Grow a greater belief in what God says is possible than your belief in what the world and circumstances say is impossible.
“Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”
— Numbers 14:9 (NIV)
“…and I brought THE WORD as it was in my heart.”
— Joshua 14:7
Those who fail to claim God’s promises compare every problem with how small they are; those who succeed compare every problem with how big God is.
2. Seize the moment.
“More people will be in Hell because of the sin of procrastination than any other sin.” — Charles Spurgeon
“God again set a certain day, calling it, “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”
— Hebrews 4:7 (NIV)
3. Take extreme ownership.
This means we take the goal or role God wants us to claim as an order not an option, a commandment for our life not a suggestion for our life.
We refuse to make or accept excuses. Even when Caleb was 85, refused to allow his age to be an excuse for not claiming all that God promised.
“You don’t conquer a mountain, you conquer yourself, your fears, excuses, and doubts, the mountain takes care of itself.” — Sir Edmond Hilary
4. Keep fanning the flames of positivity and passion.
Steadfastly maintain an attitude of faith and praise by focusing your attention and faith on God and His promises. He stayed immersed in the Word and the presence of God.
“What you keep focused on in front of you grows bigger, what you put behind you grows smaller.” — Maxwell
There are three kinds of people, those who see the fire, those who get near the fire, and those who jump into the fire.
“...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
— Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
“Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?”
— James 3:10-11 (NIV)