A Different Spirit

By: Kacie Starr Long

“But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land into which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it.”

—Numbers 14:24

It's okay to have a different spirit - one that is called by God

Lately my pastor has been teaching about having a different spirit. Not just blending in, but living in such a way that it’s clear—your life belongs to God. And honestly, that’s not always easy. Being set apart can feel uncomfortable. Sometimes it feels lonely. But it’s also where the blessings are.

I can’t hear a story about Caleb without thinking of my husband, Alfred. When we were newly married, he would say and pray to God, “Give me my mountain! I may be older, but I still want my mountain!” At first I was unfamiliar with the story of Caleb, so I would just smile but as I began to know more about the Bible, I realized that Alfred was imitating Caleb’s bold faith.

Caleb was one of the spies Moses sent to check out the Promised Land. Ten spies came back afraid. But Caleb and Joshua came back with faith. They said, “God promised it, and we believe it!” The people didn’t listen, and they wandered for forty years.

But here’s what gets me—Caleb never let go of God’s promise. At eighty-five years old (40 years later from when he first saw the Promised Land), he stood before Joshua and said:

“…here I am this day, eighty-five years old. I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me… Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day.” (Joshua 14:10–12)

Even after decades of waiting, Caleb was still holding on. Still believing. Still expecting God to do exactly what He said. This is the kind of faith I want to have.

Living Different Today

If I’m honest, having a “different spirit” has been really personal for me when it comes to my diet. The Lord has spoken to me again and again about what foods to eat, what foods to avoid, and quantity. And sometimes? I don’t want to hear it. I want chips, I want greasy meats - fried chicken, anyone? I want to do what’s easy, and what looks appealing on restaurants’ social media reels . In other words, I want to eat what everyone else eats.

But obedience often requires being different. Daniel understood that. When everyone else was enjoying the king’s rich foods, he chose vegetables and water. Not because it was popular, but because it was right before God.

And you know what? Every time I surrender in this area, I feel God’s blessing—not just physically, but spiritually.

I’ve seen this same “different spirit” in people around me too:

• A friend, during Covid, who asked a stranger in the grocery store if she knew Jesus (my friend wore a mask, so the woman thought she was asking about Cheez-Its!). I laugh every time I think about it, but my friend’s courage inspires me.

• 

  My mom has a different spirit. She went to night school in her 40's for a better life for our family.

  My mom, who went back to school at night while raising kids and working through a hard marriage. She didn’t settle, and God honored her hard work.

• A friend who’s balancing motherhood, earning her Ph.D., pastoring a church, and starting a school for boys in the inner city. It’s not easy, but she keeps moving forward in faith.

  
  

• Friends who are married and opened summer camps for children of incarcerated parents. They left behind the familiar, moved states, and kept trusting (and continues to trust) God through it all.

That’s what a different spirit looks like—it’s faith in action, even when life is messy or the dream seems delayed.

The Blessing of Being Set Apart

Alfred, my husband first introduced me to Caleb in the Bible. He continues to be a man of faith and action.

I know how tempting it is to just blend in. To keep quiet. To not rock the boat. But when God calls you to be set apart, there’s always a purpose behind it.

Caleb didn’t just inherit his mountain. His children and grandchildren inherited it too. That’s the part I love—our obedience doesn’t just affect us. It impacts our family, friends, even generations we may never meet.

So, friend don’t shrink back. Don’t be afraid to have a different spirit. If God is calling you to pray, to fast, to give, to trust Him in a new way—say yes. And when you’ve obeyed, when you’ve stayed faithful even through the waiting, you’ll be able to declare with confidence:

“Lord, give me my mountain!”

Closing Prayer

Lord, thank You for the example of Caleb. Thank You for showing us that having a different spirit pleases You. Give me courage to obey You, even when it sets me apart. Help me to trust Your promises and to stay faithful in the waiting. I surrender my will, my plans, and my fears to You. Strengthen me to keep believing, keep following, and keep saying, “Lord, give me my mountain!” In Jesus’ name, Amen.

This Week’s Challenge

Ask the Lord: “Where are You calling me to be set apart?”

Maybe it’s in your diet, your spending habits, the words you speak, or your daily routine. Whatever He highlights, choose obedience—even if it feels uncomfortable. Write it down, pray over it daily, and be okay with having a different spirit. You are anointed, consecrated and set apart for God’s best use.

This article was published in Jewel Warrior, a Christian women's online devotional. Please subscribe to receive encouraging devotionals each day from women from around the world.

Hi, my name is Kacie Starr Long. I am an author, speaker and I love to use my voice to point people to Jesus. When I'm not writing, I'm either reading, walking for exercise or sewing. God delivered me from food addiction and I have a sewing ministry, called the Sew Hope Community Sewing Room . I am the proud wife of Alfred T. Long, Sr and together we lead a non-profit that serves prisoners and their families. Connect with me at www.InspiredOverflow.com and via my YouTube page for Christian teachings and encouragement.