Your Mentality Matters: Five Day Devotional

Here are a few additional resources to guide your quiet time this week:

• Watch the replay of "Your Mentality Matters" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

• Use this small group discussion guide with family, friends and co-workers.

• Join us for our 6 AM Prayer Call, Monday through Friday (EST)

Day 1: The Power of Your Perspective

Based on the Message: "Your Mentality Matters" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, 'Do you want to get well?' 'Sir,' the invalid replied, 'I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me." - John 5:6-7

Devotional: Imagine lying by a pool for 38 years, waiting for healing, only to have Jesus himself ask if you want to be made well. What would your response be? For the paralyzed man at Bethesda, his answer revealed everything about his mindset. Instead of a resounding "Yes!" he immediately began listing his excuses and disappointments.

This man's story isn't just ancient history it's a mirror reflecting our own hearts. How often do we respond to God's opportunities with complaints about our circumstances rather than faith in His power? Our perspective shapes our reality more than we realize. When we focus on what's wrong, what's missing, or what others haven't done for us, we position ourselves as victims rather than victors.

The beautiful truth is that Jesus didn't ask this question because He needed information. He already knew the man's condition. He asked because the man needed to examine his own heart and desires. Sometimes we become so comfortable with our limitations that we forget to hope for something better. Your mentality matters because it determines how you receive what God wants to give you.

When your mind is renewed and aligned with God's truth, you begin to see possibilities where others see problems. You start recognizing divine appointments where others see interruptions. The same circumstances that once seemed like roadblocks become stepping stones to your breakthrough.

Today, Jesus is asking you the same question: "Do you wish to get well?" Not just physically, but emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. Your answer will determine whether you step into His healing power or remain stuck in patterns that no longer serve you.

Quote: "Do you wish to be heard, more than you wish to be healed? Don't stay paralyzed by victim mentality." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr

Question: When God presents you with an opportunity for breakthrough or healing, do you respond with faith and expectation, or do you immediately think of all the reasons why it might not work?

Prayer: Lord, help me examine my heart and mind today. Show me where I've allowed victim thinking to take root, and renew my perspective to align with Your truth. Give me faith to believe that You still work miracles and that You have good plans for my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Day 2: Breaking Free from False Identity

Based on the Message: "Your Mentality Matters" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:1-2

Devotional: After 38 years, the condition of paralyzed man by the pool of Bethesda had become his identity. This is one of the enemy's most subtle traps: convincing us that our temporary circumstances define our permanent identity.

When we allow our issues to become our identity, we unconsciously resist the very healing and breakthrough we claim to want. Why? Because if God removes the problem, who would we be? The truth is, your identity was established long before your current struggles began. You are a child of the Most High God, fearfully and wonderfully made, chosen and beloved. Your worth isn't determined by your bank account, your relationship status, your health condition, or your past mistakes. These are circumstances you're walking through, not definitions of who you are.

When we understand our true identity in Christ, everything changes. We stop introducing ourselves by our problems and start walking in the authority of our position as God's children. We stop expecting others to fix what only God can heal. We stop making excuses and start making progress.

There is a distinction between viewing this gentleman as "the paralyzed man," versus "a man who happened to be paralyzed." There's a huge difference. One identity cements you to your condition; the other identity positions you for breakthrough. Today, God is calling you to remember who you really are: His beloved child, created for purpose, destined for victory.

Quote: "Don't allow your issue to become your identity; don’t let poverty become your personality" - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr

Question: What issues or circumstances have you allowed to define your identity, and how might God be calling you to see yourself differently?

Prayer: Father, help me see myself through Your eyes today. Remove any false identities I've embraced and remind me of who I truly am in You. Transform my mind so that I walk in the confidence of being Your child, not the victim of my circumstances. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Day 3: Leaving the Past in the Past

Based on the Message: "Your Mentality Matters" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." - Romans 8:28

Devotional: The paralyzed man's response to Jesus revealed something heartbreaking: he was so focused on past disappointments that he almost missed his present miracle. For 38 years, he had rehearsed the same story; how others got to the pool first, how no one helped him, how he kept missing his chance. His past had become a prison.

We all have stories of disappointment, betrayal, or missed opportunities. Maybe someone promised to help but didn't follow through. Perhaps you trusted the wrong person or made a decision you now regret. These experiences are real, and the pain is valid. But here's the danger: when we constantly rehearse past hurts, we position ourselves to miss present opportunities.

God specializes in turning our messes into messages and our tests into testimonies. What the enemy meant for evil, He can turn around for good. But this transformation requires us to stop living in the rearview mirror and start looking through the windshield of faith. The beautiful thing about God's timing is that it's never too late for a breakthrough. The man had been paralyzed for 38 years, but Jesus didn't say, "Sorry, you missed your window." Instead, He offered immediate healing.

Your past doesn't disqualify you from God's future plans for your life. Today, choose to release the grip that past disappointments have on your heart. Stop allowing yesterday's failures to dictate tomorrow's possibilities. God has fresh opportunities waiting for you, but you might miss them if you're too busy looking backward. Your breakthrough is in front of you, not behind you.

Quote: "Don't allow obstructions from the past, block you from opportunities in the present." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr

Question: What past disappointments or hurts are you still rehearsing that might be preventing you from fully embracing the opportunities God is placing before you today?

Prayer: Lord, help me release the pain and disappointment of my past. I choose to forgive those who have hurt me and to stop allowing past failures to limit my future. Open my eyes to see the new opportunities You're placing before me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Day 4: From Victim to Victor

Based on the Message: "Your Mentality Matters" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Corinthians 15:57

Devotional: There's a profound difference between being a victim and having a victim mentality. A victim is someone who has experienced harm or injustice and that's a real and valid experience. But victim mentality is when we allow those experiences to define our entire approach to life, expecting others to fix our problems and feeling powerless to change our circumstances.

The paralyzed man had been a victim of his condition, but over time, he had developed a victim mentality. When Jesus offered healing, his first response wasn't gratitude or faith, it was a list of excuses about what others hadn't done for him. He had become so accustomed to being helpless that he couldn't imagine being empowered.

As believers, we must understand a powerful truth: we are no longer victims in Christ Jesus, we are victors. This doesn't mean bad things won't happen to us, but it means we don't have to stay stuck in those experiences. We have access to the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. We have authority over the enemy. We have a God who works all things together for our good.

This mindset shift is especially crucial for parents and leaders. You cannot lead your household with a victim mentality because that's exactly what you'll pass on to the next generation. Your children need to see you as someone who overcomes obstacles, not someone who is overcome by them. They need to witness faith in action, not fear in control.

Today, make the conscious choice to think like a victor. When challenges arise, ask "How can God use this?" instead of "Why is this happening to me?" Your mentality will determine your legacy.

Quote: "We are no longer the victim in Christ Jesus. We are the victor." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr

Question: In what areas of your life are you still thinking like a victim rather than a victor, and how might this be affecting those you're called to lead or influence?

Prayer: God, transform my mind from victim thinking to victor thinking. Help me see challenges as opportunities for You to show Your power. Give me the courage to lead my family and others with faith, not fear. Make me a testimony of Your goodness. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Day 5: Trusting the Right Source

Based on the Message: "Your Mentality Matters" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, waiting for the moving of the waters; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted." - John 5:3-4

Devotional: For 38 years, the paralyzed man had put his trust in a system, waiting for the stirring of the water, hoping someone would help him into the pool first. He had placed his faith in myths about magical healing waters and in people who consistently let him down.

But when the Messiah himself stood before him, he almost missed the miracle because he was still focused on the wrong source. How often do we do the same thing? We trust in systems, people, or methods that have repeatedly failed us, while overlooking the One who has all power in His hands.

We put our hope in government programs, job security, or human relationships, forgetting that our ultimate source is God himself. This doesn't mean we shouldn't use wisdom in practical matters or that we shouldn't work with others. But it means our ultimate trust must be in the Messiah, not in myths or man.

When systems fail, and they will, we have a Savior who is still speaking, still working, still providing. God is raising up a generation of people who realize they have a responsibility to take care of their households, but who also understand that their ability to do so comes from Him. These are people who work diligently but trust completely. They plan wisely but depend wholly on God's provision and guidance.

The beautiful truth is that despite current systems and situations, the Savior is still speaking. He's giving instructions for building generational wealth, establishing godly homes, and walking in His purposes. The question is: will you follow His instructions, or will you keep waiting by the pool of human solutions? Today, choose to put your trust in the One who never fails, never changes, and never runs out of resources. He is greater than any system, and His plans for you are good.

Quote: "Don't trust in myths or man. Trust in the Messiah." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr

Question: What systems, people, or methods have you been trusting in that may be preventing you from fully depending on God's power and provision in your life?

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for putting my trust in things that cannot save or provide lasting solutions. Help me to trust You completely while still being wise and responsible. Show me Your instructions for my life and give me the faith to follow them. In Jesus' name, Amen.