Determine your Attitude

     I don't know what it is but I've genuinely been in a good mood lately. This isn't to say that I haven't had my moments but overall, life has been good. Some days it feels like every hard and dark thing I went through was just a bad dream. Other days, those memories are so vivid. It's weird to think about. When you're in those seasons, you hope with everything in you that things will work out. As Christians, we can find scriptures for whatever we're going through and believe in promises that things will work out. We hope against all hope but those seasons can take time and even if you have the faith to believe that God will be faithful, it's hard to picture how things will be on the other side. I imagined that I'd be much farther along than I am now. I thought I'd be travelling and publishing my stories. I thought I'd be living on my own with enough money to be comfortable. I wanted to live in Europe and work as an editor. Needless to say, that did not happen. I'm not even close to most of those things but that doesn't mean that where I am is bad. I have my frustrations but I'm grateful to be here. There's so much left for me to learn and I'm so blessed to be excited about it, about my life, because there was a period of time where I wasn't. 

    Today, I want to talk about attitude. How is your disposition day to day? How is your outlook on life? I've learnt it and heard it so many times in my life; you cannot control how you feel but you can control how you react. There are many times when my emotions overwhelm my better judgement and my reactions are thoughtless but there are always opportunities to take a step back and breathe. Granted, sometimes it can take me a couple days to figure out what I'm feeling and why and how best to react to it but I would much rather take my time then rush into ruin. We're human. At some point in our lives, we've all made a rash decision and we all have regrets. Your feelings may not always align with what is true. We have to determine to hold steady and build on a strong foundation.

    Before he fell, Lucifer, Satan, whichever title you prefer, was a worship leader in heaven. In Revelation 4, it tells us that worship happens constantly so his job was a big one. He fell when he started to want it for himself. We all have things that take priority in our lives. It could be our careers, the people we love, the dreams we have, anything. As much of a priority my faith is, it isn't everything I live and breathe. God is not always my first priority. More often than not, I'm my first priority. Now, I have never studied theology so I hope my interoperation isn't offensive. If Lucifer was a worship leader, surely his greatest weapon is worship. If your focus, your regard, adoration, or reverence is on something other than you Creator, it can very quickly become an idol and a distraction. Be careful what you worship. Be aware of your thoughts and emotions and where they're leading you. 

    That's why our attitudes are so important. And I'm not saying be optimistic to the point where it becomes naivety but you shouldn't be so realistic that it steals your joy. If we decide to consider it all joy in all seasons, like James says (James 1:2), it'll be easier to make it through hardships. It's something you genuinely have to decide in your good seasons because it's so much harder to try when you're at your lowest. When you determine it beforehand, suddenly you're accountable to it. Your thoughts matter, they have so much power. What you focus on has so much affect on who you are. Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your mind with beauty and truth. Meditate on whatever is honourable, whatever is right, whatever is good, whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy." We've been given a good head on our shoulders. We can recognize what can turn into a bad habit or pattern of thinking. When we get focused on the negativity we see and feel, it's so easy to get stuck there. 

    Guard your thoughts and you'll guard your heart also. Be aware of your mindset and where you let your emotions take you. Make sure your attitude is in check. I know the world is a mess right now but there is always something to be grateful for. Challenge yourself this week. Make a list of the things you're grateful for. Determine your attitude. Make the decision to be cheerful, even when circumstances don't align with what you're feeling. As you change the way you think and view the world, things will change for you. Be the light that you're looking for. Fix your eyes on the One who promises peace and joy in a place of chaos. 

Yours Truly,

Rey