When In Doubt, Recount

Recount: tell someone about something; give an account of an event or experience, narrate

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“When in doubt, recount.” These are the words I heard in my spirit first thing upon waking this morning. There are likely going to be many times in life when you are tempted to doubt that things are truly going to “work out.” If you struggle to keep faith and a positive, victorious mindset when looking towards the future, then the Lord wants to help you with that today. 

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I am reminded of the story of the twelve spies in Numbers 13 who Moses sent to inspect the Promised Land (Canaan). The chapter begins, “The Lord said to Moses, “Send men to explore Canaan, which I’m giving to the Israelites. Send one leader from each of their ancestors’ tribes.’”-Numbers 13:1-2

 Notice that God said, “I’m giving the land to the Israelites.” So the spies assess the whole land and report back to Moses. Now the spies have a choice to make. Ten of the spies choose to believe the report of their eyes–what they have seen and experienced in the physical while exploring the land–and they completely doubt that they can take the land. Two of the spies choose to believe that if God said He was giving it to them, then His report is the one that matters despite what their eyes had seen. One of those spies, Caleb, said: “‘Let’s go now and take possession of the land. We should be more than able to conquer it.’”-Numbers 13:30

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If God said it, what you see doesn’t matter. 

If you are struggling with doubt and with moving victoriously into the future, my question to you is: what are you recounting? The ten spies spoke accurately about what their eyes had seen. But the Bible calls it a “Bad report” or a “Lying report.” How can that be? Because they were not interpreting what their eyes were seeing through their spiritual eyes–through the lens of faith in what God had said. This caused them to have a spirit of complaining–a sure earmark of having your eyes on your circumstances and not on the Word of God.  

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If your eyes are on your circumstances instead of the Word of God, you will complain more than you contend. 

So how do we make sure that we are not giving bad reports in our own lives? 

#1) You have to know what God says. 

The only reason Caleb and Joshua in our story of the spies were able to stand in confidence that they could and would take the land, was because they knew God had told them it was theirs. That’s why reading and understanding Scripture by the Holy Spirit’s revelation is crucial. 

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#2) Your words must line up with God’s words.
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Matthew 12:34 says, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” So every time you speak about what is happening in your life, you are revealing whether you are truly being ruled by your circumstances (complaining), or by your faith in the goodness of God.   
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So when you are in doubt about a present or future situation, recount the goodness of God, and the victory that belongs to you through Christ. 

Here are some Scriptures to start you off so you know like Caleb and Joshua did, that the Word of God is far and above whatever you are up against!

“For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”-1 John 5:4-5
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“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since He did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won’t He also give us everything else?”-Romans 8:31-32
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“The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will protect His people, and they will defeat their enemies,”-Zechariah 9:15a

“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”-Psalm 9:1-2

“For the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.”-Deuteronomy 20:4

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”-Philippians 4:13

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”-John 16:33

“With God’s help we will do mighty things, for He will trample down our foes.”-Psalm 108:13