GOT A “GIVE-UP-EASILY” ATTITUDE?

“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1

Do you tackle life with a mostly POSITIVE or NEGATIVE ATTITUDE?

Your attitude makes a huge difference in how you face life.  It can determine your level of satisfaction, peace, and enjoyment of all God has given and blessed you with.  It can also determine the choices and experiences you have, or don’t have (and maybe live to regret!).

BUT WHAT INFLUENCES YOUR ATTITUDE? Have you ever thought about this?

• Is it your upbringing?  Your parents or other adult influences?  It can be.
• Your genetics?
• Is it some life experiences that have left you pessimistic and negative in your outlook?
• Is it a choice to simply stay stuck in the “miry clay” as Psalm 40 describes?

There are often varied and multiple factors—but regardless, God’s Word is full of positive words and challenges for each of us as we go through the ups and downs of life.  Here are some:

• Be joyful in hope
• Be patient in affliction
• Be faithful in prayer
• Never flag in zeal
• Be aglow with the Spirit
• Run with perseverance
• The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want
• The Lord is my strength
• Come to Me all who are burdened
• Who shall separate you from the love of Christ?
• My peace I give you
• The Spirit will help me in my weakness.
• Be filled with the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness….

God wants you to have a positive vision of your life, whatever your age or situation. Proverbs 29:18 declares that where there is no vision (and this can be applied personally) we perish.  We lose out emotionally, spiritually, even relationally.

 HOPE, NOT GIVING UP, WILL BRING YOU JOY AND FULFILLMENT. GIVING UP WON’T!

Being negative about your future is not the attitude God wants for you or me. He encourages us to have a vision, to trust that He has good things ahead for us—yes, there may well be different situations that challenge us to cling to Him because life always changes.  But, believing He is present and that He cares and will give us the strength to face new situations pleases God.

Several years ago, I read something that has stayed with me.  The author asked the question:

“I wonder if it pleases God more to say, ‘I trust You’ than ‘I love You.’ ?”

What do you think? Can you say you trust God?

That you believe He has something good ahead for you?

God wants to bless you. He wants to bring you joy. He calls you to Persevere and He runs the race with you. As one who sometimes struggles with “giving-up-easily”, I’m grateful that God sees it and sends a friend, a Scripture, a song, or some other way to say, “ Keep going, Poppy. I am with you, and I’m not finished with you yet!”

I hope you hear those words, too!

Poppy