In His Name Devotionals
ATTITUDE MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
In His Name Devotionals
ATTITUDE MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
Attitude isn’t everything, but it’s more important than most of the things to which we attribute our daily outcomes. Those of us inclined to whine that others have gotten more breaks or who excuse failure or poor performance by blaming someone else are sabotaging ourselves with a poor spirit.
Many things about life are simply the hand we’ve been dealt. We can’t change our place of birth, appearance, IQ, or natural skills. Education and training can open some doors, but cannot change our past, make us taller and more athletic, or alter the fact that some people are unfair in the way they treat us.
The one thing we can do something about is how we choose to respond to circumstances. Even Jesus couldn’t control what other people thought and said about Him. But He refused to let them dictate His spirit and behavior.
There is a section in John Baillie’s A Diary of Private Prayer that reads …
Teach me, O God, so to use all the circumstances of my life today that they may bring forth in me the fruits of holiness rather than the fruits of sin.
Let me use success as material for perseverance;
Let me use danger as material for courage;
Let me use reproach as material for longsuffering;
Let me use praise as material for humility;
Let me use pleasures as material for temperance;
Let me use pains as material for endurance.
The beginning of every day brings countless things over which we have no control. It may be bad weather or someone’s bad temper, a deadline that won’t budge or a client equally resistant to change. The one factor we can control through it all is our attitude toward them.
Attitude enables us to generate “the fruits of holiness rather than the fruits of sin.” Attitude turns disappointment, anxiety, and criticism into positive outcomes. Attitude keeps success, praise, and gratification from becoming pride.
Our attitude today will make the difference in everything that matters.
Celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks, festivities and parades. But also celebrate it by setting aside a time to thank God for His numerous blessings upon our country.
