ATTITUDE

In the past two years I moved into four different offices within the same organization. It’s getting so I’m leery of putting anything up on the wall knowing I’ll just have to move again. Change is the norm in the Army Reserves these days. Now as I get ready to move for the fifth time I am eyeing an office that best serve the needs of my team and me. But to move into this office I have to displace a man highly resistant to change. I did not look forward to the conversation with him knowing that he would resist my directive. At first, this is exactly what he did. He cited injustices he experienced in the past. He said he would raise a ruckus. Then he said according to regulation he was entitled to a space of at least 120 square feet. All of his objections were raised before I even mentioned the office in which I planned to relocate him. Other members of the team measured the dimensions of that space and “gleefully” informed him that it was sufficiently large. They too had anticipated a defensive posture. Fortunately, the situation was resolved favorably and we can move on to more important issues!

Meditation

2 Samuel 10:12—Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in His sight.

The Bible records that sometime around 1000 BC the Ammonite King Hanun elected to go to war with Israel. King David’s general was Joab, a cunning and brave man. Joab deployed his army against a hired force of Arameans to his front and Ammonite forces to his rear. This forced Joab to divide his army, putting one group under the leadership of his brother Abishai. Joab’s final words of instruction to Abishai before going into battle are the words in the meditation above.

Joab’s attitude in a position of vulnerability was excellent. He simply chose to trust in God and he communicated his faith to his warrior brother. He knew that ultimately victory was in God’s hands. No surprise, the Israelites won in stunning fashion.

Our attitude is a profound indicator of our spiritual condition. One cannot trust in God and have a sour attitude, a complaining spirit or a whining disposition. What comes out of our mouth reveals our operating philosophy. For this reason we ought to put a banner in whatever room we frequent the most with these bold words: THE LORD WILL DO WHAT IS GOOD IN HIS SIGHT!

If you and I want to have a good outlook in the face of change or adversity we must trust God, believe He loves us and that He wants what is best for us. If our attitude is wrong our hope is not in our Sovereign Lord. Our mind-set is indicative of trust or lack of trust. If we want people to see the power of Christ, they must see us rise above misfortune and inconvenience—confident in the power of YAHWEH! Don’t blame God when things go bad. Don’t praise yourself when things go well. Believe that He is in control and live accordingly. He gets the glory; we get the joy. He deserves our trust; we learn how to live. Something to think about . . . in reveration!

Inspiration

It isn't your problems that are bothering you. It is the way you are looking at them.—Epictetus

The only attitude a Christian can have is one of absolute humility before God; if we are anything at all in the holy life it is by the grace of God and no other way.—Oswald Chambers in Notes On Jeremiah