It Makes All the Difference -
by Pastor John Fredericksen
We
once had a friend named Richard, a handyman who fixed small motors and
engines. He had a faithful dog that kept him company everyday in his
shop. This dog excitedly jumped to greet Richard, and then followed him
around like a shadow, giving him affection, and acting like she thought
he was the best man in the world. One day while observing all this, I
complimented the dog. Richard smiled and said, "You know, she's the same
every day and after all these years, she's never complained once."
It's
a shame more people don't have the same kind of disposition that
Richard's dog had: a good attitude. But it is possible. Remember God's
prophet Daniel? When Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem, Daniel, along
with others, was taken captive to Babylon. In this process, he was
forcibly stripped of his freedom, homeland, name, and ultimately his
manhood (Daniel 1). He was placed in the charge of "the prince of the
eunuchs" (1:7), which meant he was castrated to make him a safer subject
in proximity to the king and his realm. Daniel could have responded to
all these brutal events with anger and resentment, but he didn't. The
queen described Daniel as one who had "an excellent spirit" (5:12). It
was because of this quality that Daniel had been elevated to "master" of
the king's magicians and astrologers. As the king observed Daniel, he
elevated him further for his good attitude. Daniel 6:3 states, "Then
this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an
excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the
whole realm."
A
famous preacher once commented that he believed attitude was more
important than facts, education, money, circumstances, failure, or
skill, that it will make you or break you.* Proverbs 17:27 says it this
way: "He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of
understanding is of an excellent spirit." Like Daniel, each of us can
make a conscious choice to have a good spirit, or attitude, no matter
what our circumstances. We can choose not to complain, be bitter,
resentful, or negative. We can choose to exalt our Savior with not just a
good attitude but with "an excellent spirit." Is this going to describe
you today?
Les Feldick Ministries
30706 W. Lona Valley Rd.
Kinta, OK 74552
Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
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