It can be challenging to distinguish between faith and mere positive thinking. I believe in being positive but doing so while grounded in Christ and His Word. It’s easy to allow phrases like, “If you can see it, you can be it.” And, “If you can name it, you can claim it” become like Scripture to us. These phrases sound good. They are positive. But are they genuinely grounded in Christ and His Word?
I remember years ago visiting a student ministry that was claiming cars for every student old enough to drive. I don’t mean any old cars. The students brought in pictures of the vehicles they were claiming in prayer for themselves. Now, there is nothing wrong with praying for a car. Especially if you need one to get to work or school. But, these were vehicles made for far more than meeting a student’s transportation needs. I saw pictures of cars like Ferraris. A Ferrari, although pretty cool, is not very practical. The Student Pastor told me they used it as an evangelism strategy. They trusted God to provide the cars, and in return, they would use them to be a witness of what you can get when you come to Jesus.
I certainly believe God blesses His people to be a blessing to others. However, we ought to realize that God is more concerned with our character than comfort. Further, we should come to Christ for salvation, not mere stuff.
In one way or another, the name-it-and-claim-it camp of positive thinking has seeped into our churches and been accepted by far too many as part of the gospel. When we approach God’s Word with a particular slant, it’s easy to see it fit our way of thinking. Besides not being biblical, it causes great disappointment in the least and for some to walk away from the church when it doesn’t pan out.
A verse often taken out of context but provides a profound truth is Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” We could wrongly approach this verse with a particular slant and think, “All I need to do is love Jesus, and I can get what I desire (like a Ferrari). First, this verse literally says God will give you what your heart desires. This is accurate and true. However, it’s to be understood that those who delight themselves in the Lord will be transformed by Him, and their hearts will desire the right things. Charles Spurgeon, an English preacher of the 19th century, explained, “When your will is God’s will, you will have your will.” Now that will change a person’s life for the better, and such a person will be a faithful witness for the Lord. Won’t you take time today to ponder what it looks like for you to delight in the Lord and partner with His Spirit to make His will your will, which is always something to claim and a witness to others? Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!