"I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day to day basis is my choice of attitude. It is more important that 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 is no barrier too high, no valley to deep, no dream to extreme, no challenge too great for me."-Charles R. Swindoll
I have had some very challenging experiences here lately which have impacted me greatly. My immediate reaction, sadly, is a fleshly one, to become frustrated or upset over the circumstances. However, here lately, I am learning the power of quickly switching to a godly reaction instead. I mean, it would be fabulous if the godly reaction was my first reaction but I am still very much a work in progress. So, how does this work? Well, it's all about choosing wisely.
Philippians 4:8 tells us this, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.
2 Corinthians 10:5 says to, "Take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ."
These 2 verses tell me that I have a choice in my attitude. I can focus on my circumstances and become frustrated by them or I can focus on the Creator and His character.
Last Friday, I had a super frustrating day. It was literally, one issue after another. (I'll spare you the details- but just know I was in tears.) I wanted to have a pity party and be Negative Natalie. But I knew that wouldn't do me a lick of good. So, instead I began to encourage myself in the Lord. This is what that looked like:
God is faithful and He is love. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He is the Creator, the transformer, the reconciler and the redeemer. He makes all thing...s new. He redeems my life from the pit and crowns me with love and compassion. Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning. He is my shield and my rampart, my glory and the lifter of my head. He goes before me and makes every crooked place straight. He satisfies my desires with good things. When I am tired or weary, I will mount up with wings like an eagle. I am the apple of his eye. He is attentive to my cries. His ways are perfect and his love casts out all fear. He is my rock and my refuge, my help in the day of trouble. He is my strong tower and fortress. He sets a table before me in the presence of my enemies. His perfect love casts out all my fears. In him, I am safe, secure, blessed, favored, redeemed, healed, loved, forgiven, chosen, beloved, beautiful, and accepted!!
The shift in my focus caused a shift in my attitude. But the choice of choosing to shift my focus was mine. And it's yours. While I would love for this to be my response all of the time, I am still working on it. Hopefully, together though, we can choose wisely!
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