Negative Attitudes
Friday July 18, 2014
How many of us have a negative attitude. When someone says “it’s a lovely day” we counter with “it’s going to rain tomorrow”. If we are in a happy situation which causes us to laugh heartily then we think “there is going to be crying to counter all this laughing”. An attitude like this causes us to be fearful and miserable and has a negative influence on those around us. Changing our attitude will change our lives.
In our environment, bad habits and negative attitudes may have had a significant impact on our lives. When we felt vulnerable to what was going on around us and inside us we tried to anesthetize ourselves. We used our substance of choice to help cope with the emptiness, the nameless pain, the loneliness or some other distress deep inside our being. We may have lived long periods of time in addiction because our daily practices were entirely focused on meeting our own needs. God desires to meet all of our needs. Are we willing to let Him do so?
But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy. For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love. (Psalm 5:11-12 NIV)
We cry out to God each day about what is happening in our lives. We see other people as the cause of our pain and negative attitude. We seldom stop to assess whether, by our attitude, we have added to our problems and continue to do so. Perhaps we read the Bible for encouragement but fail to let God’s word empower us with strength to overcome whatever is going on in our lives.
When King David’s sins of adultery and murder were exposed he cried out to God for mercy. He knew of the boundless love of God for him and was willing to bring those things that he had done before God for cleansing and healing. David cried:
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. (Psalm 51:1-4 NIV)
Like David, do we know the God of the Bible? Do we know of His great mercy towards us and that He surrounds those who come to Him with a shield of His unfailing love? If we really know this God, how can we retain a negative attitude? Today, let’s ask God to wash away all that hinders us. Let’s resolve to come into a loving relationship with Him. Our attitude will be changed forever as we allow His love to encompass our whole being.
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