No one wants to be around a person with a bad attitude. Life is hard enough without listening to someone constantly complaining in your ear. I know a man who is in the habit of being angry and miserable that it is his first reaction to everything even good news. When great things happen, he finds something to be upset about. Unfortunately, this was modeled to him as a child, so it was probably a learned response. Perhaps no one ever showed him how to enjoy life. But allowing the past to control today is still a choice he makes. Because of that, not only will he never be happy, but neither will those around him. We don't want to be that kind of person, nor do we want to live with one.
Without naming names, let me assure you that I am an expert when it comes to praying about it instead. It has paid off, but I'm still perfecting this mode of operation. Every time I prayed for a spirit of joy to arise in this person's heart, I saw visible changes and my reaction was better as well. An angry, dour, unforgiving, negative person can get that way for various reasons. He stays that way because of a stubborn will that refuses to receive God's love. The Bible says we have a choice as to what we will allow into our heart ( Psalm 101:4), and whether we will harden it to the love of God or not ( Proverbs 28:14). We choose our attitude. We choose to receive the love of the Lord. We permit an attitude of thankfulness to rise in us.
If your husband allows himself to wallow in a consistently bad attitude, it will make a good marriage miserable, and a shaky marriage intolerable. A habit of responding negatively will adversely affect every aspect of his life. Of course you can't rule over your husband's will, but you can pray that his will lines up with God's. Pray that his heart becomes pure, because the Bible promises a person who has a pure heart will see God ( Matthew 5:8) and have a cheerful countenance ( Proverbs 15:13). ( Who doesn't wish her husband could see God and have a cheerful countenance?) Pray for his heart to be filled with praise, thanksgiving, love, and joy, because " a good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things" ( Matthew 12:35). Even if there are no major changes immediately, he is certain to be softened by your prayers. And that, at least, can give you a better attitude while you wait for his to improve.
Prayer:
Lord, fill ( husband's name) with Your love and peace today. May there be a calmness, serenity, and a sense of well-being established in him because his life is God-controlled, rather than flesh-controlled. Enable him to walk in his house with a clean and perfect heart before You ( Psalm 101:2). Shine the light of Your Spirit upon him with Your love.
I pray that he will be kind and patient, not selfish or easily provoked. Enable him to bear all things ( 1 Corinthians 13:7). Release him from anger, unrest, anxiety, concerns, inner turmoil, strife, and pressure. ( Proverbs 15:13), but enjoy the continual feast of a merry heart ( Proverbs 15:15). Give him a spirit of joy and keep him from growing into a grumpy old man. Help him to be anxious for nothing, but give thanks in all things so he can know the peace that passes all understanding. May he come to the point of saying, " I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content" ( Philippians 4:11). I say to ( husband's name) this day " The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace" ( Numbers 6:24-26).
Power Tools:
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ( Philippians 4:6,7)
Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. ( Ezekiel 18:31)
Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls. ( Proverbs 25:28)
Though I have the gift of prophecy, and understanding all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ( 1 Corinthians 13:2)
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. ( Psalm 100:4)
Saturday, February 3, 2018
Familiar Places
Bad Habits:
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives to God.
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. FOr sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace....
You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
Scriptures: Romans 6:6-14,18
Defining Moments:
Every time you've turned to an old familiar, forbidden place for relief or revenge, every time you've reacted without thinking or given in when you should have toughed it out, you've unwittingly widened the entrance ramp onto the easy street of compromise. You've made it that much easier to come back for a return trip next time the urge strikes and to keep your car in the straight and narrow.
That's what habits are-really wide, open highways you can drive with your eyes closed. Roads you've traveled so many times that you anticipate every bend, every bump. But you know that you have no business being out there. And if you just had the strength, you'd whip that car around right now and head back where it's safe.
So do it, because now your no has the power of God behind it. And every time you lean hard into His side for the strength to resist, you close another entrance ramp. You shut down another access road. You play dead to the call of the highway. You win over habitual sin.
Next Up:
Taking on tough customers like these with power of prayer and the truth of God's Word will get you ready to tackle any temptation-even when it slips in unnoticed.
Quote:
" Being free from sin not only means I can be strong in Him to stop doing wrong. It also means in Him I have the ability to do what's right." -Stuart Briscoe
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives to God.
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. FOr sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace....
You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
Scriptures: Romans 6:6-14,18
Defining Moments:
Every time you've turned to an old familiar, forbidden place for relief or revenge, every time you've reacted without thinking or given in when you should have toughed it out, you've unwittingly widened the entrance ramp onto the easy street of compromise. You've made it that much easier to come back for a return trip next time the urge strikes and to keep your car in the straight and narrow.
That's what habits are-really wide, open highways you can drive with your eyes closed. Roads you've traveled so many times that you anticipate every bend, every bump. But you know that you have no business being out there. And if you just had the strength, you'd whip that car around right now and head back where it's safe.
So do it, because now your no has the power of God behind it. And every time you lean hard into His side for the strength to resist, you close another entrance ramp. You shut down another access road. You play dead to the call of the highway. You win over habitual sin.
Next Up:
Taking on tough customers like these with power of prayer and the truth of God's Word will get you ready to tackle any temptation-even when it slips in unnoticed.
Quote:
" Being free from sin not only means I can be strong in Him to stop doing wrong. It also means in Him I have the ability to do what's right." -Stuart Briscoe
Your Day Is Coming
Hold on to what you have, that no one will take your crown. ( Revelation 3:11)
Some of you have never won a prize in your life. Oh, maybe you were quatermaster in your Boy Scout troop or in charge of sodas at the homeroom Christmas party, but that's about it. You've never won much. You've watched the Mark McGwires of this would carry home the trophies and walk away with the ribbons. All you have are " almosts" and " what ifs."
If that hits home, then you'll cherish this promise: " And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away." ( 1 Peter 5:4)
Your day is coming. What the world has over looked, your Father has remembered, and sooner than you can imagine, you will be blessed by him.
Some of you have never won a prize in your life. Oh, maybe you were quatermaster in your Boy Scout troop or in charge of sodas at the homeroom Christmas party, but that's about it. You've never won much. You've watched the Mark McGwires of this would carry home the trophies and walk away with the ribbons. All you have are " almosts" and " what ifs."
If that hits home, then you'll cherish this promise: " And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away." ( 1 Peter 5:4)
Your day is coming. What the world has over looked, your Father has remembered, and sooner than you can imagine, you will be blessed by him.
I am With You and For You
I am with you and for you. You face nothing alone-nothing! When you feel anxious, know that you are focusing on the visible world and leaving Me out of the picture. The remedy is simple: Fix your eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. Verbalize your trust in Me, the Living One who sees you always. I will get you safely through this day and all your days. But you can find Me only in the present. Each day is a precious gift from My Father. How ridiculous to grasp for future gifts when today's is set before you! Receive today's gift gratefully, unwrapping it tenderly and delving into depths. As you savor this gift, you find Me.
Romans 8:31; 2 Corinthians 4:18; Genesis 16:13-14
Romans 8:31; 2 Corinthians 4:18; Genesis 16:13-14
How To Change A Life
Sometimes our lives can change in a moment through the powerful impact of others. For rock 'n' roll legend Bruce Springsteen, it was the work of musical artists that helped him through a difficult childhood and a persistent struggle with depression. He found meaning in his own work through the truth he'd experienced firsthand, that " You can change someone's life in three minutes with the right song."
Like a compelling song, others' well-chosen words can also give us hope, even change the course of our lives. I'm sure most of us could share stories of a conversation that forever impacted our lives-words from a teacher that changed the way we saw the world, words of encouragement that restored our confidence, gentle words from a friend that carried us through a difficult time.
Perhaps this is why the book of Proverbs spends so much time emphasizing our responsibility to treasure words and use them wisely. Scripture never treats speech as if it's " just talk." Instead, we are taught that our words can have life-or-death consequences. In just a words we can crush someone's spirit, or, through words of wisdom and hope, nourish and strengthen others.
Not all of us have the ability to create powerful music. But we each can seek God's wisdom to serve others through our speech. With just a few well-chosen words, God can use us to change a life.
Lord, help us never to take for granted the powerful gift of language. May we use our words wisely to heal and strengthen others and point to the hope we have in You.
God has given us the power to have an impact on lives through our words.
Like a compelling song, others' well-chosen words can also give us hope, even change the course of our lives. I'm sure most of us could share stories of a conversation that forever impacted our lives-words from a teacher that changed the way we saw the world, words of encouragement that restored our confidence, gentle words from a friend that carried us through a difficult time.
Perhaps this is why the book of Proverbs spends so much time emphasizing our responsibility to treasure words and use them wisely. Scripture never treats speech as if it's " just talk." Instead, we are taught that our words can have life-or-death consequences. In just a words we can crush someone's spirit, or, through words of wisdom and hope, nourish and strengthen others.
Not all of us have the ability to create powerful music. But we each can seek God's wisdom to serve others through our speech. With just a few well-chosen words, God can use us to change a life.
Lord, help us never to take for granted the powerful gift of language. May we use our words wisely to heal and strengthen others and point to the hope we have in You.
God has given us the power to have an impact on lives through our words.
Thursday, February 1, 2018
Follow Me One Step AT A Time
Follow Me one step at a time. That is all I require of you. In fact, that is the only way to move through this space/time world. You see huge mountains looming, and you start wondering how you're going to scale those heights. Meanwhile, because you're not looking where you're going, you stumble on the easy path where I am leading you now. As I help you get back on your feet, you tell Me how worried you are about the cliffs up ahead. But you don't know what will happen today, much less tomorrow. Our path may take an abrupt turn, leading you away from those mountains. There may be an easier way up the mountains than is visible from the distance. If I do lead you up the cliffs, I will equip you thoroughly for that strenuous climb. I will even give My angels charge over you, to preserve you in all your ways.
Keep your mind on the present journey, enjoying My Presence. Walk by faith, not by sight, trusting Me to open up the way before you.
Psalm 18:29; Psalm 91:11-12; 2 Corinthians 5:7
Keep your mind on the present journey, enjoying My Presence. Walk by faith, not by sight, trusting Me to open up the way before you.
Psalm 18:29; Psalm 91:11-12; 2 Corinthians 5:7
National Treasure
When an advertiser altered a photo of Michelangelo's famous marble sculpture of the biblical hero David, Italy's government and gallery officials objected. Picturing David with a military rifle slung over his shoulder ( instead of his slingshot) would be a violation-"like taking a hammer to it or worse," a cultural official said.
In first-century Jerusalem, David was remembered as the shepherd-songwriter and soldier-king of Israel's fondest memeories and greatest hopes. Prophets foretold that David's descendant would finally defeat the enemies of Israel. So, centuries later, when crowds welcomed Jesus as the Son of David, they were expecting Him to lead thhe revolt that would overthrow their Roman occupiers. Instead Jesus knocked over the tables of temple money-changers to restore His Father's house as a house of prayer for all nations. Israel's leaders were furious. This wasn't the kind of Messiah and son of David they were looking for. So without realizing what they were doing, they called for Roman executioners to take a hammer to the hands and feet of the true glory of Israel.
Instead of stopping them, Jesus let Himself be lifted up on a cross of shame-defaced and disgraced. Only by resurrection would it be known that the true Son of David had defeated His enemies with love and enlisted the children of all nations to spread the word.
Father in heaven, it's hard to admit. But it's true. We get so confused. We try to protect the images we love more than the love You consider priceless.
Jesus shows that God is always better than our expectations.
In first-century Jerusalem, David was remembered as the shepherd-songwriter and soldier-king of Israel's fondest memeories and greatest hopes. Prophets foretold that David's descendant would finally defeat the enemies of Israel. So, centuries later, when crowds welcomed Jesus as the Son of David, they were expecting Him to lead thhe revolt that would overthrow their Roman occupiers. Instead Jesus knocked over the tables of temple money-changers to restore His Father's house as a house of prayer for all nations. Israel's leaders were furious. This wasn't the kind of Messiah and son of David they were looking for. So without realizing what they were doing, they called for Roman executioners to take a hammer to the hands and feet of the true glory of Israel.
Instead of stopping them, Jesus let Himself be lifted up on a cross of shame-defaced and disgraced. Only by resurrection would it be known that the true Son of David had defeated His enemies with love and enlisted the children of all nations to spread the word.
Father in heaven, it's hard to admit. But it's true. We get so confused. We try to protect the images we love more than the love You consider priceless.
Jesus shows that God is always better than our expectations.
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