#attitude #waterwalkinggirls
Attitude: (noun) a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person’s behavior. Similar words: point of view, vantage point, perspective, frame of mind.
I was grumpy. Circumstances had not gone as planned. The more I thought about my circumstances the more upset I became and the more my attitude was plummeting. What could I do to get out of this funk? I texted two Christian friends and shared with them how I was feeling. Each offered words of encouragement. Each prayed for me. Each reminded me who I am and whose I am. To be honest, I did not immediately have a change of attitude but I was able to grapple my way out of the hole that I had begun to dig.
Now let me explain how I had gotten to this point. I did not have one single event that triggered my frame of mind. Instead it was a slow process and several things that had happened that didn’t go my way. So I began the “woe is me” pity party and I was the only attendee to the soiree…or so I thought. It turns out Satan was along for the occasion whispering in my ear and adding to my frame of mind. After all a pity party is his specialty. After talking with one of my Christian friends I realized that the very next day I would begin writing for Water Walkers and guess what word God had given me to write about for the week? ATTITUDE! Holy moly! The very word that God had given me to focus on was the exact area Satan was attacking me. He is so very sneaky. He was doing His best to undermine the plans God had for me. Praise God for Christian friends who helped open my eyes, prayed for me and gave me a new vantage point.
Have you ever had this happen to you? Have circumstances ever caused your frame of mind to plummet and your attitude to steep in sourness? A bad attitude can slip in out of nowhere and if we let it fester and allow Satan to influence us before we know it we have infected the poison of bad attitude into others around us. We have to ready ourselves for battle every day. I once met a lady who every morning read Ephesians 6:10-20 and as she read about the different parts of the Armor of God she would touch the body part that it covered. What a great practice to guard against evil and protect ourselves.
Billy Cox once said, “The two things in life you are in total control over are your attitude and effort.” Are you guarding your attitude? What can you do this morning to be sure you are in a positive frame of mind to start your day? What will you do today if something happens that is out of your control? How will you handle it? Will you allow Satan to whisper in your ear and cause your attitude to plummet to his level of darkness? Or will you reach out for Christ? Will you allow God to give you “endurance, encouragement and the same attitude of mind toward others as Christ Jesus had?” When Satan starts throwing darts of negativity at you don’t just sit there and take it. Text or call a Christian friend, call on Scriptures you have memorized, read a devotional, listen to Christian music, or read out loud the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20).
Today I chose the picture of the large elephant ear to share today’s verse because of its heart shaped leaves. This particular plant is located at our church. It has been there for years. Each winter it dies down, is dormant, and I always wonder if it will come up again. Each year it endures the cold, dark winters and pushes through the dirt to emerge into the sunlight. To me it is a reminder to endure and its large, heart shaped leaves remind me of Christ’s love for me and you. Look around your surroundings today. What can you find to visually remind you to focus on a Christ-like attitude? Today you will not be able to control what happens. But you can control your attitude. As you start your day pre-decide what you will do to guard your frame of mind.
Listen to this version of the song Springtime that Chris Renzema recorded from home recently to help you focus on all God will do to help you grow.
Water Walkers 