You Can't Have A Bad Day With A Good Attitude

Ever have one of those days (weeks, months...) when you know your attitude is less than perfect? Everyone rubs you the wrong way, you're overwhelmed, you're crankier more often than not, and you'd love to just crawl back into bed and try again tomorrow. Maybe.

On Wednesday night last week, we talked about valleys and how everyone is either going into a valley, in one right now, or coming out of one. The valleys in our lives all look different, from physical to spiritual to emotional to mental. Those low times can affect every part of us if we're not careful.

Says the voice of experience.

But the little mini Jesus I saw at the local coffee shop pointed to the truth. Depending on your attitude - the way you choose to look at life and the world happening around you - the day can be good. And that attitude doesn't come because we're strong or smart or super spiritual. The right attitude develops because we put our time and energy into praising the Lord for everything He's doing.

I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. Psalm 145:1-3

David's psalm of praise uses the word "I" a lot, but in the best of ways. He talks about what he is doing to brag on God. He exalts, blesses, praises, promotes, and lifts God above and beyond anything and everything. And how long will that continue? David promises to continue day after day, forever and ever. That's a lot of praise, but when his heart was overflowing with the good things that God is and does, it didn't seem far from the truth.

But I can hear the excuses already. David didn't have to deal with everything I do! He's not keeping house, doing ministry, working a job, supporting a family, trying to meet everyone's expectations, dealing with a horribly violent world, and finding time to eat, sleep, and breathe at the same time. His attitude might have been different if he'd walk a mile in my shoes.

But the man after God's own heart was dealing with all those things, just in an Old Testament way. His sin led to family problems, his kingdom was constantly at war, he spent years of his life running from enemies, people were just as frustrating then as they are now. But he made the choice, the specific decision to turn the spotlight away from the terrible world around him and shine it onto the Lord. That's where it belongs anyway, and it kept his attitude in check all along the way.

What would change in your attitude if you turned away from the negative and focused on the goodness of God? I pray we will take time today to exalt, bless, praise, promote, and lift God above all else. Then let me know what happens to that attitude of yours!

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