Attitude

It's ok to believe in Jesus and trust in God's love and guidance. 

Romans chapter 7 verses 21-25.

It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love to do God's will so far as my new nature is concerned; but there is something else deep within me, in my lower nature, that is at war with my mind and wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. In my mind I want to be God's willing servant but instead I find myself still enslaved to sin. So you see how it is: my new life tells me to do right, but the old nature that is still inside me loves to sin. Oh, what a terrible predicament I'm in! Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature? Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord! He has set me free. 

What have you done that deserves someone telling you how to live? You get along all right without God or Jesus in your life. So what if you stumble and get caught in messes. That is normal. Everyone has their issues and everyone deals with them the best way they can. The only thing that would be nice is if they would stop coming. Sometimes the issues pile up, making it difficult to be happy.

   People for years have trusted in God and prayed to Him for help. But do you believe in Him and who Jesus is? Psalms chapter 25 verse 14 says; "Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence Him. With them alone He shares the secrets of His promises." There is much more to God than His help in our time of need. 

   Romans chapter 8 verses 37-39 explain it the best. "Despite all this, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us enough to die for us. For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love. Death can't and life can't. The angels won't and all the power of hell itself cannot keep God's love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are---high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean---nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when He died for us."

   Jesus prayed to God about everything. He talked to Him as if He and God were one in sharing the joys, the heartaches and sufferings. Jesus never hid the fact that He was with God and that God was with Him. In John 14 He talked plainly about Him and the Father being one. Jesus suffered terribly at the hands of those who did not understand, who would rather push Him aside than believe He was the Messiah. In fact they nailed Him to a cross and left Him to hang there until He was dead. 

   Jesus knew God's plan and held tightly to it in order that we too could hold tightly to God in our times of trouble. It's hard to see God when our troubles are piled so high. A good example could be the internet pages, you see what is in front of you but behind that page are other pages and behind them is your desktop picture. When you clear away all the stuff you are looking at you are left with only what you see. Clear the clutter and see only God. 

   You made your troubles. You are the one who chooses to see Jesus for who He is. He died and rose again. He asks you to leave your old ways behind and come walk with Him. With your eyes upon Him you will receive the joy of being in life with Jesus and God. Where do your troubles go? It's a miracle, the miracle of believing.   

   Isaiah chapter 26 verses 18-20 say; "We too have writhed in agony, but to no avail. No deliverance has come from all our efforts. Yet we have this assurance: Those who belong to God shall live again. Their bodies shall rise again! Those who dwell in the dust shall awake and sing for joy! For God's light of life will fall like dew upon them!"

   It is so easy to be bitter and angry. It is not hard to become depressed, hiding from facing our issues. Jesus came so that we can know God and have a life with Him. Sure the issues don't stop coming but with God there is a place to turn, filled with wisdom and love. Peace of mind is found in trusting and you can count on God to bring you peace of mind. What's your attitude like? 

   You try to get along, being kind is not always so easy. You help others when you can, even when the gratitude is not returned.  You don't mean to judge others and form opinions about them but it happens. Your actions and spoken words reflect the way you feel. 1 Samuel chapter 16 verse 7 says; But the Lord said to to Samuel, "Don't judge by a mans face or height, for this is not the one. I do not make decisions the way you do! Men judge by outward appearance, but I look at a man's thoughts and intentions." We don't know what secrets people hold. We don't know what encounters they have just had. Your day may not be going so well and the last thing you need is someone giving you attitude. 

  In Romans chapter 4 verses 6-8, King David describes the happiness of an undeserving sinner who is declared "not guilty" by God. "Blessed and to be envied," he said, "are those who sins are forgiven and put out of sight. Yes, what joy there is for anyone whose sins are no longer counted against him by the Lord."

   Not everyone will accept the truth about God or what Jesus has made possible for us. But for the few who do there is no waiting for eternal life. The joy of life with God begins the moment you come before Jesus in faith. Hebrews chapter 4 verse 7 says; "But He has set another time for coming in and that time is now." He announced this through King David long years after man's first failure to enter, saying in the words already quoted, "Today when you hear Him calling, do not harden your hearts against Him." 

   Your attitude should be the kind Jesus shows us. He was with God in all He did and not a moment was spent without Him. We can't help our human side but we can seek the guidance and believe in the trust of Jesus. It will be seen in the attitude of Christ alive inside you. 

   Thank You Father for Jesus. Thank You for showing us that we are not stuck in a rut, but have a way to a better life with You. 😊      

 

Romans chapter 12 verses 1 and 2.

And so, dear brothers, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. let them be a living sacrifice, holy---the kind He can accept. When you think of what He has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don't copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how His ways will really satisfy you. 

Ephesians chapter 4 verses 20-24.

But that is not the way Christ taught you! if you have really heard His voice and learned from Him the truths concerning Himself, then throw off your old evil nature---the old you that was a partner in your evil ways---rotten through and through, full of lust and sham. Now your attitudes and thoughts must all be constantly changing for the better. Yes, you must be a new and different person, holy and good. Clothe yourself with this new nature. 

Proverbs chapter 4 verses 18-23.

But the good man walks along in the ever-brightening light of God's favor; the dawn gives way to morning splendor, while the evil man gropes and stumbles in the dark. Listen, son of mine, to what I say. Listen carefully. Keep these thoughts ever in mind; let them penetrate deep within your heart, for they will mean real life for you, and radiant health. Above all else, guard your affections. For they influence everything else in your life. 

 

Psalms chapter 32 verses 1 and 2. 

What happiness for those whose guilt has been forgiven! What joys when sins are covered over! What relief for those who have confessed their sins and God has cleared their record.