There are times that we hear or read something that challenges behaviour. It is possible that it brings to mind someone else whom we think needs an attitude adjustment. It will be most helpful if we pause and carefully consider what it has to say to us. This is true of a quote that I came across recently: “A bad attitude is like a flat tire. Until you change it, you can’t get anywhere.” Yes, we can immediately think of people that we have encountered who have attitudes that we think need to change. We may have been the recipient of comments that were hard to take. We may feel that by comparison, our own attitudes are quite good and admirable. There is a further challenge here if we refer to Scripture that sets the standard for our attitudes much higher. In Philippians 2:5, we read, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” In a self-righteous type of attitude that we take on in judging others, there is something in us that needs to change. Are we willing to pray that God will replace our unChristlike attitudes with the kind of humble attitude and willingness to give of Himself that Jesus displayed? I find it a compelling image to recognize how hopeless it is to plan to drive a vehicle with a flat tire. Then I have to acknowledge that I really am prevented from going where God wants me to go if my attitude needs changing. I am reminded of a time that I was driving on a backwoods logging road in Nova Scotia with several rocks and ruts to maneuver. Not only did this result in a flat tire, the rubber was coming right off of the rim. It was shredded and the only way to continue to my destination was for the tire to be changed. Our need to change an attitude before proceeding will not always be so dramatic, but when we detect the need for a changed attitude, we will be wise to take immediate action, with God’s help, to make that change. You and I can come to God and ask Him to give us an accurate assessment of our attitudes and how they need to change to be God pleasing. Please plan to join us this week for our WEDNESDAY PRAYER TOGETHER tomorrow October 26th at 1 pm.
Praying for our willingness to let God change our attitudes as He intends, Pastor Lola
Our loving God thank You that we can and need to come to You just as we are right now. We do not pretend that our attitudes are always what You want them to be. Sometimes we choose to overlook the ways that our attitudes interfere with our relationship with You. Sometimes we try to pretend that we are better than You know us to be. Sometimes we also choose to overlook the ways that our attitudes interfere with our relationships with others. Thank You God that by Your Holy Spirit You keep on bringing these matters to our attention. You do not permit us to harbour in our hearts what is not pleasing to You. We admit that we do need to be challenged about our attitudes. Our attitudes do matter. Please enter our private thoughts and do Your work of cleansing these spaces. When we regard other people with impatience and irritation, please forgive us. When we assure ourselves, “Well I would never do that,” give us compassion and understanding. We think of the ongoing spread of the COVID virus and how frustrated people have become in seeking appropriate medical care. We realize that once again scheduling of several health related procedures has been affected and medial staff is exhausted. It is never easy for us to realize the pressures that others face and why they might be responding in the way that they do. Our prayer is that our attitudes will mirror Jesus Who does take time to listen and to know Why people react in certain ways. Oh God, please increase our capacity for love in our increasingly loveless world. We are asking that our love will be vibrant and strong like Jesus’ definition of love. It has become apparent to us that our attitudes do affect our whole outlook on life. We think of the ways that our attitudes influence those around us. We want people to be drawn to Jesus because they can see that He is the model for the kinds of attitudes that we display. Please guard us against ever imagining that we should get any credit for what is entirely an act of Your grace. Anytime that our attitudes do remind people of Jesus, it is because You God have done the changing in us and have been working Your supernatural transformation. Please allow the small changes in us and in our attitudes that You bring about to inspire and motivate us to be lifted up to greater heights of following Jesus’ example. In knowing that our attitude should be the same as that of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray that we will keep relying on Him every day and every moment. For all those who feel convicted about having attitudes that need to change, we pray that us admitting that we cannot change without You will give them hope. Our God we do want our attitudes to change in order for us to get where You want and need us to be. We commit our attitudes and the changing of our attitudes to You. In Jesus’ Name. AMEN.