We saw Nephilim there. (The descendants of Anak are Nephilim.) We felt as small as grasshoppers, and that’s how we must have looked to them.” Numbers 13:33 [GW]
This started as a thought, they turned it into words, which ultimately framed their destiny. 10 of the spies imagined themselves as grasshoppers in their own eyes when compared with the giants of Anak. Also, without speaking with those giants, they assumed that the giants considered them in the same way. They thought that the giants were thinking the same thoughts with them. This is all because they allowed the wrong thoughts to roost in their hearts. Joshua and Caleb saw the same thing, thought differently, and ended up differently.
Our words are not just words, they have sources, just like the great rivers and oceans that cover about 71% of our earth. The mighty rivers look nothing like their sources. Most rivers grow into massive water bodies, stretching thousands of kilometres in length. Their sources would never have imagined how far they would travel and the impact that they would have on the world. This is how it is with words that start in the recesses of our hearts as thoughts. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, but it starts from thoughts.
Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose. Proverbs 18:21 [MSG]
Similarly, our actions especially when it comes to relationships with other people have the same origin. As long as we are still on this part of the divide, there will be people that will leave us with good memories and there will be people that will leave us negative stains. This is beyond our control. However, what is firmly within our control is what we do with the memories of both sets of people.
When we dwell on offence, it has an effect similar to what meditating on the word of God should produce in us, just that it is on the negative side. When we meditate on the word of God, our understanding is increased as the Holy Spirit enlightens us, our faith grows, and God is magnified in our eyes. When we dwell on offence, the depth of the hurt is increased, the pain is magnified, and we feel worse and worse. This eventually affects the way we see the people and relate to them. Bitterness and resentment get rooted in our lives.
Make sure that everyone has kindness from God so that bitterness doesn’t take root and grow up to cause trouble that corrupts many of you. Hebrews 12:15 [GW]
If we do not err in thoughts, we will most likely not err in words and deeds. It is therefore imperative that we have to guard our hearts to ensure that wrong thoughts do not grow therein. We have the power to control what goes into our hearts.
Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious – the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Philippians 4:8[MSG]
There will definitely be reasons for us to err in these areas. Offence will always be with us; we may face different shades of difficulties that will test our faith like 10 of the 12 spies. We will always have a choice of what we think, say, or do. God’s grace abounds for us to think like Philippians 4:8 suggests and to speak life with our words.
picture credit: https://gettingunstuckllc.com
Chidi Ukandu's Blog 
Great write up as usual