A Fresh Perspective

by Stacy Miller - Used by permission

 

Recently I've been going through a lot of adversity, sickness, and trials.  My husband hasn't had any work for over a month, so I am carrying the full weight of the bills.  On top of this, I found a $400 error in the checkbook, and it wasn't in our favor.  I've been dealing with a sinus infection for over ten days and it just doesn't want to let go.  And there are all kinds of rumors going around at work regarding upcoming changes that are enough to twist your stomach in knots.  I hate to admit it, but in the midst of all of this, I've failed to faithfully read the Word.  Instead, I've been guilty of running to the Wii to vent my anger and frustration through exercise.  If I don't do the Wii, then I want to escape through watching television.

 

Now I have to admit -- the Wii has been really good for me.  It has helped to increase my lung capacity to where the asthma issues aren't quite as intense or as frequent.  And the exercise has nearly alleviated my monthly female issues, which is all the more reason to want to keep using the Wii.  However, I read something the other day that made me realize that when I run to these other things instead of the Lord, I am making it a god.

 

I decided to make a change and get back to reading the Word.  I felt led to read Psalm 91 in The Living Bible because sometimes reading a familiar portion of scripture in a different version can give me a fresh perspective.  There were a few things that really stood out to me. 

 

Psalm 91:1 

We live within the shadow of the Almighty, sheltered by the God who is above all gods.

(If I want to be sheltered by the God who is above all gods, I need to LIVE within His shadow -- I need to LIVE in HIM, not running to other things that can so easily become a functional god for me.)

91:2 This I declare, that He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I am trusting Him.

(I need to focus on Him being a refuge for me and remember what safety there is in dwelling in Him.  I need to remind myself that HE is my God, and I WILL trust in Him, instead of focusing on my problems.)

91:4  His faithful promises are your armor.

(There is no armor like the armor of God.  I need to be meditating on His promises because they are the armor that will deliver me from the fears that assail me.)

91:9 For Jehovah is my refuge!  I choose the God above all gods to shelter me. 

(The word "choose" really stood out to me in this verse.  It is MY choice how I am going to respond to the daily frustrations and fears.  Am I going to run to the refrigerator and gorge on junk food?  Am I going to escape through watching TV?  Am I going to play on the Wii for hours just so I can focus on something besides my problems?  It is MY choice.)

91:12 They (the angels) will steady you with their hands to keep you from stumbling against the rocks on the trail. 

(When I'm on a "rocky trail," those angels are there to help me and keep me from stumbling and losing my way.)

91:16 I will satisfy him with a full life and give him my salvation.

(Nothing on this earth has the ability to satisfy me and give me a full life like the Lord.)

 

Viewing this portion of scripture in a different version really did give me a much-needed, new perspective.  I have noticed a difference already in my thoughts and my attitude.  While my body may still feel the effects of this nasty sinus infection, at least my spirit has been refreshed.  I may still have the same trials before me, but now I don't feel so alone and overwhelmed.

Some Attitudes Run Pretty Deep

QUOTE - There are sins of omission, sins of commission and sins of disposition.  Yes, attitudes are very important!

 
SOME ATTITUDES RUN PRETTY DEEP

By Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller - All rights reserved - Used by permission

www.biblicalparenting.org 

An attitude tune-up ultimately addresses how children think and what they believe. Attitudes are a mindset. They reflect how we process information and experiences. When an actor dressed in a white lab coat tells you that one particular toothpaste is the best because it fights cavities, you may believe him and have a positive attitude toward that toothpaste, even though all toothpaste fights cavities.

When a friend tells your teenage daughter that her shoes are out of style, you may try to convince her otherwise by showing her the latest catalogs, but she will choose whom she wishes to believe and develop an attitude toward the shoes accordingly.

Attitudes are based on information and experience. To help your children develop appropriate attitudes, start by identifying the thinking errors that may be leading to a bad attitude. Here are a few:

"Work is a disruption to my fun in life."
"I should be able to do what I want to do."
"My parents shouldn't be correcting me for this kind of thing."
"My parents are too strict."
"My brother has problems too but he never gets in trouble."

Take time to ask questions about your child's bad attitude to discover what thinking error may lie behind it. Dialogue with your child to get at some of those hidden issues. Be careful if the discussion becomes emotionally charged. Although meanness should be a signal that the conversation needs a break, don't be overly put off by a child's intensity.

When your child speaks strongly, you may gain insight into some underlying beliefs. Children sometimes say things in anger that they wouldn't normally say. These statements are clues to thinking errors. You don't want to try to reason with your child when he's angry, but listen and then you'll be able to discuss the issues later. After a break, come back with questions, suggestions, and statements of right thinking as you continue to dialogue.

The goal is to help children think rightly and that takes time. Questions like "Why do you think that's unfair?" Or, "Tell me how I could have handled it differently" can often help kids get started. Your persistence will pay off as you try to help replace the lies or immaturity with healthy statements that they can say to themselves.

Attitudes / Trials

ATTITUDE

© 2007, Stacy R. Miller - Proverbs 31 devotionals - Used by permission

Attitudes can make us or break us.  If you have been around someone with a bad attitude, you will notice that you feel like the life is slowly being drained from you.  On the other hand, if you are surrounded with those who have a positive attitude, it is like a breath of fresh air.  You will leave their presence feeling invigorated.

Because attitudes are so important, I came up with an acrostic for the word “attitude” to help us in adjusting our own attitudes.

A is for acknowledging God. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

T is for trusting God to help you. (Proverbs 3:5)

T is for training yourself to be godly. (First Timothy 4:7)

I is for interrupting ungodly thoughts. (Second Corinthians 10:5; Philippians 4:8)

T is for turning your thoughts heavenward. (Colossians 3:1-2)

U is for unloading your burdens before the Lord. (Psalm 55:22)

D is for daily reading and meditating on the Word. (Psalm 1:1-2; 119:97-98)

E is for extolling the Lord. (Psalm 34:1)

By acknowledging God, we can view any interruption or crisis with a sense of calm, rather than panic.  Acknowledging the Lord can make it much easier to trust Him, even when faced with things which we do not understand.

Each day carries annoyances that have the ability to push our hot-buttons.  The kids will bicker.  The dryer may quit just as we have pulled a load of wet clothes out of the washer.  The car battery may go bad just when we have loaded the trunk with groceries.  Yet, when we fully trust God to work ALL things together for good, we can train ourselves to respond in a godly fashion, rather than reacting from our fleshly hot-buttons.

When we have trained ourselves to be godly, we will find it is easier to interrupt ungodly thoughts.  We will have toned up our spiritual muscles, making us ready to do a “workout” on any ungodly thoughts. 

There is something about acknowledging God in those quiet hours, early in the morning.  When I take the time to do that, I find my thoughts are more apt to turn heavenward throughout the rest of my day.  As I make a habit of turning my thoughts toward the Lord, it becomes a natural thing to unload my burdens to Him. 

I have found that taking time to read the Word in the morning helps me to meditate on it as I set about my daily tasks.  And the more I meditate on Him and His Word, the more I find myself extolling Him every day.

How about you?  Do you need some help with your attitude?  Do you need a new attitude?

TRIALS

If Joseph had not been Egypt's prisoner, he never would have been Egypt's governor.  The iron chain about his feet ushered in the gold chain around his neck.

The finest china in the world is burned at least three times, some of it more than three times.  Dresdan china is always burned three times.  Why does it go through that intense fire?  Once ought to be enough; twice ought to be enough.  No, three times are necessary to burn that china so that the gold and crimson are brought out more beautifully and then fastened there to stay.  We are fashioned after the same principle in human life.  Our trials are burned into us once, twice, thrice; and by God's grace these beautiful colors are there, and they are there to stay forever.  -- Cortland Myers