Back in the mid 1980s, Patti LaBelle had a wonderful song by that name. Well, I Googled the lyrics and love one particular part of that song. It goes like this: I'm feelin' good from my head to my shoes, Know where I'm goin' and I know what to do, I tidied up my point of view, I got a new attitude! That's where I find myself this afternoon...the owner of a new attitude.
There has been a particular person and situation in my life who has caused me stress and grief for the last little while. I was focused on little things in this person's life and manner which caused me to be one frustrated lady. I wanted to change this person. I wanted this person to be thinking like me, processing things like me, organized like me, reacting like me......I guess I wanted a clone of me!
Last Sunday night I couldn't even sleep for thinking this way. I lay awake trying to come up with ways to change this person. You know, the mid-night "If Only Club." Realizing I needed to sleep so I could work on Monday, I simply said, "Lord, help me. Help me to be more compassionate to this person." Frankly, I went on to sleep and forgot my simple prayer. I forgot it completely until I was driving alone this afternoon in the quietness of my car. I suddenly realized I was thinking of this person with a gentleness that had not been in my heart before.
All day today I have been humming the tune of Ten Thousand Reasons. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul. Worship His holy name....." This evening I am the one who has been blessed! What a miracle to see God working in my life! It's a sweet experience to know that He has His hand on my life this way!
How about you, my friend? Have you been carrying things around in your Burden Basket which you really should relinquish to the Lord? Another line in that Patti LaBelle song says, "I'm in control and my worries are few..." Are you trying to control your life and the lives of people around you? I have learned over the years, and especially today, that when I am trying to be in control, my worries are greater. Giving control over to my Creator is the best way to live.
May I encourage you today to release the clinch of your fist around the idea of control? Right now, physically, actually make a fist and release it. Why do we work so hard to hold on to things that we have no business holding onto? There was another song by Twila Paris that applies beautifully here. God Is In Control. This song goes like this: "God is in control. We believe that His children will not be forsaken. God is in contol. We will choose to remember and never be shaken. There is no power above or beside him. God is in control. God is in control."
Isn't that a better song!? Believing the God is in control is a freeing experience. Choose today to remember the promise of His word. First Peter 5:7 tells us to cast all our care on him....because he cares for us. Dear friend, I hope you will believe that God cares for you. I hope you will cast your care on him. I hope that you will find yourself with a surprisingly refreshing new attitude!
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