Together with kindness and in understanding, let’s take this time to self reflect. I am here to inspire, encourage, and remind you that God has given us the most important weapon we have to fight the enemy, his Word.

Now let’s dress our soul like we dress our bodies, EVERYDAY!

Attitude

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” James 1:2 NLT

We have all been there, feeling the weight of life’s problems on every side. We have felt it in our relationships with others, dreams that are still just dreams, finances running away from us like water, deadlines missed and the  frustration it brings. How much more can a sista take? But look at God leading me to James 1:2. Imagine that,  considering all of my troubles as an opportunity for great joy. 

James wrote today’s key verse during a time when people faced great persecution, unrelenting trials and sufferings — from murder to imprisonment — at the hand of Saul, who was zealous in his efforts to destroy the church and anyone associated with Jesus. As a result, they juggled an array of emotions, including fear, mourning, confusion, loneliness and even hopelessness. Some fled their homes in fear for their lives. They lived in poverty, forced to scrounge for food to survive. Some were sick, and everyone was exhausted. They had every right to be negative and pessimistic. I can only imagine as they sunk under the weight of seemingly insurmountable problems and fears, that their faith might have been sinking, too.

When life gets hard, it’s difficult to avoid letting a bad attitude take over our minds and rule our lives. We might not experience religious persecution as those first believers did, but let’s face it: People hurt us, the past haunts us, coworkers mistreat us, parents don’t love us, friends don’t consider us, spouses don’t honor us, children don’t appreciate or respect us, finances don’t support us, and our health doesn’t sustain us. James’ instructions to the believers of his time can help us, too.

It’s imperative that we seek God’s guidance about every aspect of our lives and allow Him to work out His perfect will. Friends let us take on his values, attitude, and character. I realizing my attitude was my choice, and knowing whatever circumstances I faced didn’t have the power to dictate that attitude unless I let them. The only thing we have to lose by choosing a positive attitude is a negative one.

Lord, free us from the shackles of a bad attitude. Work in our hearts and minds to change my thoughts from negative to positive — despite the struggles I face. Fill me with a joy that can only come from You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Remember friends, we are each others’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.