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We should always have the countenance of peace no matter what comes our
way. Many times we allow the circumstances of life to dictate our
attitude. If everything goes well for us on a particular day, we will be
happy, smiling and full of joy, but if we have a hard day full of
challenges and setbacks, our attitude is negative and we find ourselves
murmuring and complaining about that situation. What we must quickly
realize is that it is within our own power to react positively no matter
what comes our way. We can stay in peace despite the setbacks, the
hardships and the discouragements. It is within our own ability to look
past the temporary negative situation and focus on the big picture. When
we allow the short term distractions to steal our joy and peace, we are
missing out on greater blessings. Our energy becomes drained and our
focus becomes distracted. We no longer see the good because we are so
tuned in to the negative. (Isaiah 61:3)
Knowing that we can overcome the negative situations by focusing on the
good before us, we can begin to take hold of the understanding that we can
be in harmony no matter the temporary trials that come our way. Having a
countenance of peace keeps our life on the right path despite any
negativity trying to pull us down. We must keep our eyes of faith focused
on the Lord and know that He will perfect that which concerns us. If our
life faces a detour, we can have a deep and assured knowing that all will
work together for our good in the end. Knowing that good is at the end of
our journey, we should see every negative situation with a silver lining.
If you've lost your job, focus your attention on getting a better job. If
your health isn't at its best, focus on what you can do to improve your
health. Exercise more often, eat better foods, add the right supplements
to your diet. No matter what situation comes our way, we can look at it
in a positive way and do our best to improve that situation.
(Numbers 6:26) (1 Peter 5:10-11)
Our attitude must be positive in order for a positive change to take
place. We can't murmur and complain about how bleak our situation is and
expect it to get better. Our words, our actions and our faith must be
aligned and in tune with one another in order to bring about a positive
change. Be encouraged to think about what you are thinking about. Are
you focused on the right things? Are you determined to not let any
situation bring you down? If so, that is when you know you are on the
right path towards victory. You have to be determined to be at peace
despite the storms, setbacks and struggles of life. Have faith in God and
trust that all things will work together for your good in the end. By
doing our part, we make it easier for God to do His part. (Romans 8:28)
I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to be focused when
times of discouragement try to hinder your life's path. By focusing on
the right things, all distractions will have no power over our life.
MANAGING ATTITUDES
As an airport skycap checked through a customer at curbside, he
accidentally knocked over the man's luggage. He quickly collected the
fallen bags and apologized for the mishap. Unappeased, the traveler burst
into an angry tirade, raging and swearing at the skycap for his
clumsiness. Throughout the traveler's rant, the baggage handler simply
apologized and smiled. The angry man continued to berate the skycap, until
he finally headed off to catch his plane. Even then the baggage handler
remained calm and passively smiled.
The next customer in line witnessed the incident and marveled at the
skycap's professionalism and control. “I have never seen such restraint
and humility,” he said. “How do you keep your cool when somebody is
attacking you so viciously?”
“It's easy,” the skycap answered. “He's going to Denver, but his bags are
going to Detroit.”
That is certainly ONE way of managing attitudes, but here is a more
constructive approach.
Have you heard of the A-B-C method of managing your attitude? It's simple
and effective.
“A” stands for the “Activating Event.” Let's say you get stuck in traffic.
The traffic jam is the activating event.
“B” stands for your “Belief System.” You believe that traffic is only
getting worse and you'll have more and more days like this ahead.
“C” stands for the “Consequence of the Event.” You become angry. You want
to honk your horn. Your stomach is tied in knots and you bang the
dashboard with your fist.
The problem is...most people jump directly from “A” to “C.” They get stuck
in traffic and become angry. They think the traffic jam made them upset.
They don't realize that they didn't HAVE to get angry. They skipped an
important step!
Let's try it again:
“A” - you get stuck in traffic.
“B” - you believe that you were given some unexpected and extra time to
spend in solitude, to listen to a great tape or to plan your day.
“C” - the consequence is that you feel gratitude for the gift of time.
I have a friend who is fond of saying, “A traffic jam has no power to make
us angry. It just stops our car.” He is aware that between the activating
event and the consequence is something that we control: our beliefs about
what is happening.
The next time you have a problem -- at home or at work, big or small --
decide to manage your attitude toward it. Practice the A-B-C method. You
probably can't change “A,” the activating event. But try changing “B,”
your beliefs about the problem. When you change your beliefs, you also
change “C,” the consequences of the situation.
It's as simple as A-B-C. Manage your beliefs, and you'll manage to be a
lot happier!
By Steve Goodier
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Psalm 40:1-4 “I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined unto me,
and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the
miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He
hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see
it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man that maketh
the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside
to lies.”
Isaiah 26:3-4 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed
on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for
in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.”
Hebrews 12:1-3 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great
a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which
doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set
before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who
for the Joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For
consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself,
lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”
1 Corinthians 2:9 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,
neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath
prepared for them that love Him.”
Psalm 34:4-8 “I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from
all my fears. They looked unto Him, and were lightened: and their faces
were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved
him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about
them that fear Him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the LORD is
good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: I WILL NOT WORRY
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem95.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: OUT OF DARKNESS
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony103.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
