Attitude

4 Feb

Strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees.
Make straight paths for your feet,
that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed.
Strive for peace with everyone,
and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
See to it that no one be deprived of the grace of God,
that no bitter root spring up and cause trouble,
through which many may become defiled.  (Heb 12:12-15)

“Watch your attitude.”  That is a catch-phrase that every child hears quite often while growing up.  Of course, when we hear it, we generally do not appreciate it because, after all, our attitude at those times is pretty rotten.

Attitude, however, colors the way we view life and approach life.  It determines how we will interact with people.  Ultimately, it affects our relationships with others and with our God.

Which is why God’s people were admonished to make sure that their attitude was pure and holy.  If the community would strive for peace among themselves, they would find that peace.  If, however, they deprived the peace of God to anyone, strife would come about and, with it, bitterness and upheaval would take its toll.

We would do well to remember that the attitude with which we approach life and approach our God is going to color our days.  We could look forward to the future with hope or we could tell ourselves that there is no hope.

If we look forward with hope, we will treat others, and ourselves, with the utmost respect.  If we believe there is no hope, we will look down on others and ourselves and our attitude will become a self-fulfilling prophecy:  we will find no peace or hope.

In many ways, then, the choice is ours.  Do we want peace and hope?  It is simple.  Be a people of peace and hope.  In short, watch your attitude!

FAITH ACTION:  Examine your relationships with others.  Are there any that need forgiveness and healing?  Pray for the grace needed to make amends.