Attitude Adjustment

" Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus," Phil 2:5

Boy, do I need an attitude adjustment every now and then!  I can have a rotten one sometimes.  In fact, a few weeks ago (when I actually penned this post), it was downright foul.  I was selfish and self-centered.  Quick to get angry with the people i love the most.  I'd really been letting the flesh rule.  I don't know why my husband didn't kick me out of the house!  Looking back, I make myself sick...every been there?  Disgusted by your own attitude?  Don't even want to be around yourself?  Yep...that's where I was at.  Stinkin Devil...trying and succeeding in stealing my joy!

God likes to keep me on a short leash, so he plants me in scripture right where I need it.  Where I need to marinate.  I needed to marinate in Jesus' attitude.  

Phil. 2:5-11 is a beautifully worded account of Jesus' attitude toward his time here on earth.  If anyone had a reason to have a bad attitude, it was him!

-He is Lord of creation, God in the flesh
-He gave up HEAVEN and the worship of angels to put on skin to walk among us
-He became a human with all of it's hindrances like sickness, hunger, weariness
-He suffered rejection, loss, betrayal
-People thought he was crazy or demon possessed
-People didn't listen to him
-People begged for his death
-People beat him, spit on him, nailed him to a cross, and watched him die

Most of us would have said to heck with all of em!  Let them rot in hell!  I'm not doing this anymore!

But, thank you, Jesus, you didn't.

Instead his attitude was to humble himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (vs.8).

There are many things God asks me to be obedient to in my life...death on a physical cross hasn't been one of them.  In these seemingly small requests, I have held out obedience because my attitude isn't right.  The excuses flow easily, each one stemming from what I am "entitled" to.

Today, we are driven by entitlement.  We all "deserve" a good job where we are happy, a nicer car, a comfortable house, money to spend on ourselves, time away, vacations, nice clothes, golf, guns, a new hair do, etc, etc, etc.

Truth is, we "deserve" none of it!  Everything we have is a gift from God.  Everything.  Even what we see as burdensome.  That job God has placed you in that is less than desirable.  The lack of "me" time due to caring for your family.  The house that needs repair.  The car that needs tires.  

All.gifts.from.God.

Today, instead of looking through the eyes of entitlement, let's look through the eyes of Jesus.

-Let's empty ourselves of what we think we deserve.
-Let's voluntarily give up our freedom to be subject to the Lord's work in our circumstances.
-Let's humbly and obediently accept that where God has us right now is EXACTLY where he wants us.  To make us more like him and to reach those around us for Christ.  To grow us and use us.

This attitude of submission to the Father's will is not going to come easily or naturally.  It is a choice we have to make daily...sometimes hourly.  It' hard but so worth the payout. 

A Broken Record

It's been so long, I don't know where to begin...

I had a conversation recently with a dear friend about the Christian's walk and it's ups and downs.  There are times in your walk where you are over the top in love with the Lord.  You long for time with him...you just can't wait to sit at Jesus' feet and glean from his wisdom through his word and prayer.  You just aren't complete without it!  These are the mountain tops.

Then there come times where you feel distant from him.  His close presence isn't felt, in fact, you feel the Devil more!  It's a discipline, not a desire, to spend time in the word and prayer.  You feel a little defeated and weary.  These are the valleys.

I've been in a valley for awhile and, honestly, I haven't felt like writing.

I kinda feel like a broken record.  My outcry to the Lord went a little something like this:

"Don't you get tired of me?  I'm tired of me!  My prayers are always the same!  I do do what I don't want to do and I don't do what I do want to do.  It's exhausting..."

Thus the broken record that keeps playing the same old song.

Instead of leaving me in the valley of defeat, my God chooses to walk me thru them and up to higher ground-each and every time.  He never tires of me, for he knows the outcome of my life.  That makes me want to weep, in fact, I am as I write this.  All the victories and defeats are carefully under his gaze.  At my lowest, he is there to lift me up.  At my highest, he is there to keep me level.  He is my strong tower, my refuge and my deliverer! Oh, how grateful and blessed I am to know the One who hold every tear in a bottle, who wants good for me not harm, who runs to embrace this prodigal child as she wanders home dirty and used by the Enemy.  Lord, you are beautiful and I am garbage, but for you your Son...and he loves me anyway!

You see, this broken record can be fixed.  During my outcry to the Father the other day,  He gave me a verse that is now emblazoned on my heart.  I now have 2 life verses.  The first is Jer 29:11 and now I also have Phil. 2:13.

"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him." 

As I memorize and meditate on this word, I feel the presence again and the power with it.  He has not quit working, even when I have.  It promises hope and desire...a new start, for his mercies are new every morning.

I know this post is off topic as it doesn't contain the word phroneo, but at least it's in Philippians LOL
I know there is someone else out there who feels like a failure and needs encouragement.  God bless you, friend, you are not alone.  May God speak his love and purpose over you as you read this.

And be assured...the mountain top is coming soon!