Attitude Issues
“I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.” And so it is with you…we are in charge of our Attitudes. Chuck Swindoll[i]
A striking example of this “truth” was given to me recently as I was having a conversation with a delightful single woman in her early thirties. Her faith was obvious and her joy contagious. I mentioned it in our conversation.
She explained that she has had many dates that have fallen flat but one in particular left a lasting impression. Her date was angry and bitter because he was still single. So much so that she chose not to have a second date with him.
She was so struck by the bitterness that she concluded that she would not allow being single to make her bitter, ever. She made a conscious decision to trust God for whom, when and if she would be married so that she could enjoy life now.
She admits that it is still a desire of hers but she has resolved, and is actually grateful, to have had the bitter example. She’s considering it a sort of warning.
This commitment to an attitude of “whatever the Lord wants for me” is a great example for many of us whose Christmas expectations (or any others) are not happening as we had hoped. Christ’s coming to “save us from our sins” and to be “God with us” is worthy of celebration whether we are with our own chosen few or whether or not the gifts are what we expected. Single, happily or unhappily married, getting the solo at church – or not, gifts or no gifts; none of this matters in the face of Christ the King’s birth.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)
When we read these verses about warring the flesh we may avoid the truth that it is our flesh that longs for what God has not provided (at least not yet). Bringing every thought captive may be our only safety net, not allowing them to grow and flourish without comparing them to what we know is true about God.
If these bitter, angry thoughts attack your flesh this Christmas season, please be reminded by the Word of God that He sent His Son to save us from such sin. It may “feel” lonely in the moment but Jesus is “Immanuel, God with us” (Matthew1:23). He is our Friend, our refuge, our strength, even our joy is a gift from our Almighty God.
We have taken Christmas from a day, worthy of celebration because of what God did to a season that makes anything the world determines good or right to be of greater importance. It seems that it’s easy to lose our first love.
My young friend has been given a practical lesson in how to “count it all joy” as she faces the disappointment of not being where she thought she would be by this time in her life. Will we adopt this attitude that God’s ways are higher and better than ours? Will we trust Him to set the course of our lives as we continue to live and worship and grow in our faith and understanding of all He can do without any assistance from worldly advisors?
[i] https://i.pinimg.com/736x/37/92/13/379213ac28cfd6084d9dc31bd31ae6e0.jpg
