Can I be honest with you about one of my biggest struggles in life?
My attitude.
I used to be so positive and upbeat in my walk with God……then I turned 20. Okay, that might be a bit of a stretch - but over time and through differing circumstances, I found myself wandering and wondering what God was doing in my life. I worked in police work for 30 years, and that had a major impact. I found myself complaining more than contemplating the Word. I saw things and people through the eyes of the law rather than the grace of God.
Psalm 31:24 says, “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”
I believed in the Lord, but it was becoming more and more difficult for me to “hope” in Him.
Psalm 42:5 – “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.”
I so wanted that to be the cry of my heart - yet I was becoming more and more hopeless in my head. My attitude went from praise & thankfulness to one of blame and anger. That “nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen” lie of the enemy. (Maybe you hear that voice from time to time?) I bought into that deception for a long time. I knew that if I continued down that path, I would lose any hope that my attitude could ever reflect the truth of the gospel and God’s Word. Something needed to change.
I read a summary on attitude by Chuck Swindoll years ago. I printed out a copy and taped it to my printer so that I would read it every day. Chuck gave permission to “tweet” it, so consider this my tweet to you today:
“Words can never adequately convey the impact of our attitude toward life. The longer I live, the more convinced I become that life is 10% of what happens to us and 90% of how we respond to it. I believe that the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude. It is more important than my past, my education, my bankroll, my successes or failures, fame or pain, what other people think of me or say about me, my circumstances, or my position. Attitude keeps me going or cripples my progress. It alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope. When my attitudes are right, there’s no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me.”
So, my friend…How is your attitude today? How will you CHOOSE to respond to your circumstances?
2 Corinthians 9:8 says, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”
As my brother, Bill, would say…GOSPEL!
I encourage you today to ask God to help you to see the things and people around you through His eyes and with His heart. It can change everything.
I am always glad to talk with you if you need help, encouragement, or just someone to listen. My number is 806-206-5071.
Blessings,
Doug S. Gehm