Taking Charge of Your Attitude: Finding Hope in the Messiness of Life

I don’t want to! My mind only spoke what my heart had been whispering to me all day.

You are too tired. You need a break. You just feel off. You want to get back in bed. Why is life so hard?

And I allowed my heart grumble all day long. No wonder making dinner seemed like a gigantic sacrifice and instructing martial arts seemed a chore rather than something I love to do.

Is this how God wants His people to feel? Should all of life feel like a heavy weight, an insurmountable task?

Jesus promises that He came to give us an abundant life. He also promises that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

So when life feels heavy and our attitude it stinks what do we do?

Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my salvation… Psalm 42:5, 42:11, 43:5 ESV

When God repeats Himself, He means pay attention. God knew our attitudes would stink, that our emotions would rebel and that we would need to take charge of our attitudes.

That starts with taking charge of our thoughts.

When our hearts say, You are cranky.

Our minds ought to say, Why? Then they need to get up in our hearts’ business and say, Hope in God. Praise God. Remember He died for you. Remember He answered your prayer for healing, purpose, etc. Remember He is good. He never fails.

Sometimes we have to “fake it till we make it.” I never liked that phrase before. It always felt disingenuous. If I didn’t feel like praising God, then I just wouldn’t do it. I mean it makes no sense.

But God uses the foolish things of this world to shame the wise. And so sometimes we have to start to praise God when it we don’t feel like it. When it feels like we are total frauds and fakes. When we wonder if God is really listening.

You know what happens when we praise God even though we don’t feel like it? Our attitudes change. Our hearts get realigned as we recognize God as God and ourselves as created beings. Suddenly our hearts rejoice and our attitudes reflect Christ’s attitude.

The same is true when our attitude toward life/school/work/housework/etc is stinky. If we start praising God in song or in prayer or through reading scripture, God will do a miracle in our hearts.

It takes time and effort, but we can take charge of our attitudes, it just takes a little praise.

Father God for far too long I have allowed my heart free reign. Help me to take charge of my attitude. May Your praise be forever on my lips and in my thoughts. May I hope in You and when necessary help me to fake it until I make it. Help my attitude to be the same as Christ’s that I may bring You glory and honor in all I say, do, and think. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.