I overslept the other morning, which put me behind in my all-so-important schedule. Sarcasm. And I let it irritate me. Which led to me having a bad attitude with my kids when they acted like…kids. And my coffee didn’t kick in quick enough. So by 9 a.m. I decided that the day was shot. By 9.
Then I had a moment of clarity and decided that just because I started the day with a bad attitude didn’t mean I had to live the day or end the day with a bad attitude. I could choose to shift my perspective.
God is so patient with me.
For me, a perspective change begins with a short (sometimes ugly) cry to God. One in which I confess my immaturity and my whininess. I tell Him how thankful I am for the multitude of blessings in my life. Multitude! Then God’s Word comes to mind and I say true things out loud.
Out. Loud!
If I need extra help out of the funk, I text a friend or call my sister, give them the short version of my momentary emotional struggle, and ask them to pray with me. Then they say something awesome that lifts my spirit. Because we’re not meant to do this faith race alone.
And most times, after pressing into Him through prayer, and making my spirit remember truth, my attitude changes. It doesn’t happen immediately. And pixie dust doesn’t fall from heaven or anything. But miraculously, things change.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalm 103:2-5
I can’t explain it really, except that I’m very weak and He’s so amazingly strong and able to transform us from the inside out when we humble ourselves at His feet. And He keeps doing it again and again and again. Always new mercies.
So my day changed. Well. My day didn’t change. I changed. He changed me. And it turned out, the day wasn’t shot after all.
Fill me, Lord…
What do you do to ditch the bad attitude?
My SIL, best friend, and I do the same–call and confess. Uplift with truth. I always feel better when my “go-to gals” are there gathered in His name to pray over me. Can’t wait to share this post with them!
That’s great, Christie! I don’t have anyone to call and confess to…wonder what my friends would think if I started doing this. Someone has to be the one to start, right?
For sure! Oh, and I just sent you my phone number via twitter DM 😉
Go-to gals. Love ’em. So thankful that God gifts us with friends. 🙂
Oh, was this timely. Thanks, Lara.
I remember ‘God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him’ John Piper; and try to plan something FUN – or simply pause to count a few things that I love same end – a changed me.
If my kids are whiny too I make us sometimes have a laugh attack. We just all start laughing as hard an loud as we can. It helps. 😉
I pray & get out of “myself”. I do things for others b/c it’s not about me. It’s about doing the next right thing & loving your neighbors.
That’s so good, Caroline. Getting out of ourselves.
i make myself list the blessings….
I have been listening to joyce meyers while doing my housework. It is soooo the battle of the mind so this helps me to dilute the negative.
I usually try to pray, with sometimes miraculous results. Other times, it’s more work for me to consciously pull myself out of the negative, “I can’t do this” mindset. I love your idea of calling a friend and praying with her!
After I’ve spent sufficient time in pity party mode (which is always way too long in retrospect), I finally yield to the conviction to confess it and ask for forgiveness when it’s called for. 🙂 I’m a real quick learner over here. *sarcasm*
This is perfect timing for me too!! Have been asking God to either clarify for me a conviction or reveal a temptation I’ve fallen for, confess and rejoice in His forgiveness with thanksgiving! He is our perfect High Priest who knows our weakness and our hearts. Praise God who disciplines gently and graciously forgives and gives love, joy, and peace so extravagantly!
right on time for me today. Love you friend
Started the day with a bad attitude too. Tried to run it off (while praying) but it re-surfaced later on (stressful times). Your book has been a great reminder to continually bring it back to God, which is a struggle for me. I’m very independent, but God has been reminding me again and again (through life circumstances) that He wants me to be God-dependent. Thanks so much for your honesty! Your book has impacted me like only one other book has before. I’ve shared it with another friend, and would love to use it as a guide for a Bible study some time. Blessings!
Start counting the gifts. Grace is there in every moment, and sometimes I sit to breathe or hug someone! Our kids are always up for that.