Tag Archives: bad attitude

Prayer for Today

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Refiners finer

January 19, 2015

Father, whether I want to admit it or not, I have a lot of stuff in me that does not bring You glory. Life has left me scarred and battered in so many places. I have built up walls and defense mechanisms against hurt, rejection and heartache. These walls and defense mechanisms have kept me from being truthful, honest, upright and have positioned me to not represent You in the best way.

Father, I have allowed fear, anger, a bad attitude and low esteem, among other things, to be embedded in the core of who I am. Just like when a miner pulls raw metal out of the ground and has to refine it so that it can be used for its rightful purpose, I need You to refine me so that I can be used for the purposes You have planned for me.

I know that I will have to go through a refining fire to remove my impurities but, if I want to look like Christ, I must allow You to purify me of my sins so I can be used by You. I want to be a clean and useful vessel for You. Refine me! Purify me! Use me! In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Scripture references:

Psalm 66:10

Isaiah 48:10

Jeremiah 9:7

Zechariah 13:9

II Timothy 2:21

I Peter 1:7

Living Above Mediocrity

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Reputation Matters

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reputation-matters

“So Saul said to his attendants, ‘Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.”’ “One of the servants answered, ‘I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him.”’ Samuel 16:17 – 18

When Saul was sickened with a mental illness caused by an evil spirit that God leveled against him, he told his attendants to start looking for someone who could play the lyre (harp) that would soothe his spirit.

One of the servants spoke up and told Saul about David. The servant said, 1. David was a gifted musician. 2. David was brave. 3. David had mastered the language. 4. He know how to carry himself and 5. God was with David. David’s reputation is what got him the interview for the job. If a leader is looking for someone with your skill set, what would your reputation say about you?

Some of us get upset because we didn’t get the promotion or recognition we think we deserve but, before we get upset, we need to examine our reputation at work, at home, in our churches and in our community.

There are some questions we need to ask ourselves:  Are you known as someone who is skilled and gifted at your work? Are you willing to take on challenges and bravely do something new? What about your attitude and how you treat other people? Can people trust you to handle yourself in an appropriate manner when you’re dealing with leaders? Do you look the part? Do people know there’s something different about you because God is with you? The answer to these questions will lead you to the answer to the big question: “What type of person am I known as?”

All these pieces go into our reputation and we need to pay attention to every facet of our reputation to ensure when our opportunity for elevation comes, we don’t block our own blessing because we’ve destroyed our reputation.

“A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” Proverbs 22:1

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You Are the Salt of the World!

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Salt shaker

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” Matthew 5:13 (NIV)

If we have accepted Christ as Savior, You and I are the salt of the world. We have the power to heal, cleanse, preserve, create thirst, keep things afloat – like the Dead Sea, enhance an experience, take away stains, repel unwanted pests and add flavor to every life, situation or circumstance we encounter.

Salt is small and seemingly insignificant but, it is very necessary if we want to change the outcome of the flavor of what we cook or the look of what we clean. The same is true with us.

We may not be a big named preacher or someone others deem significant but we can give a smile to a cashier at the store, a kind word to a homeless person on the street or a shoulder to cry on for someone who is grieving. We can make a small donation to a local charity that’s working to make our community better or volunteer a few hours a week to that same charity. These things may seem small but they can make a big difference.

Christians are the salt of the earth. Everywhere we go and everyone we come in contact with should be changed by their encounter with us. This can be a very dangerous thing if the Christian the world comes in contact with is bitter, resentful, envious, and hateful or has a bad attitude. Christians with personalities like this in like putting too much salt in your food; it ruins the food.

Every time we’re going to encounter someone we need to ask ourselves these questions:

  1. Is my attitude going to enhance or ruin this encounter?
  2. How can I help clean away their stains?
  3. How can I help them stay afloat?
  4. Am I going to do anything that will cause me to be an embarrassment to God?
  5. Has my reputation been rightfully trampled by men?

Keeping these questions in mind will help us enhance our encounter with others verses ruining their view of Christ. We are the salt of the world. We are here to enhance other people’s lives one small act at a time.