Time to Change Your Coat
Most mornings a parent picks out the clothes for their young children to wear. In the same way, the apostle Paul says, "Dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline" (Colossians 3:12). Our heavenly Father has picked out attitudes for us to wear, such as kindness, being good to people, being pleasant to be around. When you're kind and good-natured, you draw people to you and opportunities will come your way. People want to do business with likeable people. When we're hiring someone, their résumé tells us their skills and what they have done, but we always meet with them because we want to see if they are positive, friendly, kind, and considerate. They can be gifted, but a negative attitude will pull the team down. On the other hand, a positive attitude can make up for a lack of experience, training, or talent.
"Well, Joel, I've always been kind of negative and sarcastic. That's just who I am." No, that's who you're choosing to be. That's not who you are. Maybe that's how you were raised, that's what you saw modeled growing up, but that's not how you have to stay. All you have to do is make an attitude adjustment. It's not complicated. You can't change other people or your circumstances, but you can control your attitude.
The Scripture says, "Put on a garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness" (Isaiah 61:3). A garment is like a coat. Before you can put on a coat of praise, you have to take off a coat of heaviness. Sometimes we wonder why we don't have any joy, why we're not passionate. We're wearing the wrong coat. "Nothing good is in my future. I never get any breaks." Let me give you some fashion tips. That coat of discouragement doesn't look good on you. That coat of self-pity is out of style. That coat of bitterness over who left you or what you didn't get doesn't fit you anymore. All that is restricting you. You've come into a new season. Now do your part and take off that old coat of heaviness, take off that coat of offense, and put on a coat of praise. "Father, thank You that Your plans for me are for good. Thank You that what You started in my life You will finish."
Life is too short for you to live it sour, discouraged, letting your circumstances dictate your attitude. Every morning, make this decision and say, "This is the day the Lord has made. I'm going to live it in faith. I'm going to be positive. I'm going to see the good. I'm going to make the most of this day." Put on a fresh new attitude.
"Well, Joel, I've always been kind of negative and sarcastic. That's just who I am." No, that's who you're choosing to be. That's not who you are. Maybe that's how you were raised, that's what you saw modeled growing up, but that's not how you have to stay. All you have to do is make an attitude adjustment. It's not complicated. You can't change other people or your circumstances, but you can control your attitude.
The Scripture says, "Put on a garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness" (Isaiah 61:3). A garment is like a coat. Before you can put on a coat of praise, you have to take off a coat of heaviness. Sometimes we wonder why we don't have any joy, why we're not passionate. We're wearing the wrong coat. "Nothing good is in my future. I never get any breaks." Let me give you some fashion tips. That coat of discouragement doesn't look good on you. That coat of self-pity is out of style. That coat of bitterness over who left you or what you didn't get doesn't fit you anymore. All that is restricting you. You've come into a new season. Now do your part and take off that old coat of heaviness, take off that coat of offense, and put on a coat of praise. "Father, thank You that Your plans for me are for good. Thank You that what You started in my life You will finish."
Life is too short for you to live it sour, discouraged, letting your circumstances dictate your attitude. Every morning, make this decision and say, "This is the day the Lord has made. I'm going to live it in faith. I'm going to be positive. I'm going to see the good. I'm going to make the most of this day." Put on a fresh new attitude.