How Did You Start Your Day?
Did you start your day looking at all the difficulties you would face and let your circumstances dictate that you'd have a negative attitude for the rest of the day? It's easy to do. Too often we don't realize that our attitude is a choice we make over and over every day. The Scripture tells us to constantly "be made new in the attitude of your minds" (Ephesians 4:22). We choose the way we see life, whether we will be grateful or negative about what we think is good and not good. When we begin to focus on the negative, we see more negative and allow that negative perspective to rule over us. It's like swimming against the current. It's just a struggle.
In Numbers 13--14, the twelve spies that Moses sent into the Promised Land all saw the same things--the land was flowing with milk and honey, but there were giants in the land and heavily fortified cities. Ten of the spies saw themselves as grasshoppers and spread a negative report among the two million Israelites that they could never conquer the land. Joshua and Caleb, however, brought a good report that they should go in and take the land at once. They declared, "Do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, for the Lord is with us."
The negative report kept the people of Israel out of the Promised Land for forty years, but God gave Joshua and Caleb a second chance because they were of "a different spirit." One version says, "An excellent spirit." Because they had the right perspective of who God is, they not only survived but they thrived in the wilderness. Forty years later, Caleb said, "Listen, I'm stronger and more determined than ever to take this land. Bring on the giants."
When Joshua and Caleb were about to lead the younger generation into the land, Joshua declared to them, "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve." He was saying, "Every day you choose your attitude. Every day you choose the way you see life. Now choose how you're going to see your journey into today." And he added, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua and Caleb chose to see beyond their circumstances, to quiet the discouraging voices that would come against them, and to believe that God is a big God who would go before them and help overcome every challenge.
Your attitude has a direct correlation with your success. Someone with a good attitude sees solutions and feels as though they can tackle anything. How you see your life makes all the difference in the world!
In Numbers 13--14, the twelve spies that Moses sent into the Promised Land all saw the same things--the land was flowing with milk and honey, but there were giants in the land and heavily fortified cities. Ten of the spies saw themselves as grasshoppers and spread a negative report among the two million Israelites that they could never conquer the land. Joshua and Caleb, however, brought a good report that they should go in and take the land at once. They declared, "Do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, for the Lord is with us."
The negative report kept the people of Israel out of the Promised Land for forty years, but God gave Joshua and Caleb a second chance because they were of "a different spirit." One version says, "An excellent spirit." Because they had the right perspective of who God is, they not only survived but they thrived in the wilderness. Forty years later, Caleb said, "Listen, I'm stronger and more determined than ever to take this land. Bring on the giants."
When Joshua and Caleb were about to lead the younger generation into the land, Joshua declared to them, "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve." He was saying, "Every day you choose your attitude. Every day you choose the way you see life. Now choose how you're going to see your journey into today." And he added, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua and Caleb chose to see beyond their circumstances, to quiet the discouraging voices that would come against them, and to believe that God is a big God who would go before them and help overcome every challenge.
Your attitude has a direct correlation with your success. Someone with a good attitude sees solutions and feels as though they can tackle anything. How you see your life makes all the difference in the world!