What's wrong with me? When I'm sick I get grumpy and irritable. When I'm criticised I become defensive. When people interrupt me I become impatient. I get angry at injustice. Waiting in lines, and bureaucratic runarounds make me feel I'm wasting my life.
I've had a few good days. Days when I caught up on the ironing, my eczema cleared up, I managed to write a few letters, got top marks on an assignment, and finished with an enjoyable game of Scrabble.
I try to pray on the bad days, but my prayers don't get anywhere. On good days I feel aglow with the presence of God. Why can't I have more good days?
But I've been thinking that maybe my 'good' days are the 'blah' ones spiritually... holidays from the business of growing in love. Maybe in God's record book points are only scored on the horrible days when nothing seems to go right. Sure, I lost my temper, but I lasted 15 seconds longer than the previous time, and thus got 15 points overall. Whereas I got nothing for the day when everything went right. It was just a rest between battles.
James 1:2-3 says, "Rejoice when you fall into various temptations, knowing that trials teach patience."
It's not that I should go looking for battles. Even the Lord's prayer says I should pray that I not be put to the test spiritually. The good days are something to be thankful for. Without them, I would never make it. And I Corinthians 10:13 says one way to win battles is to run away from them.
But I can't run from all of them. And when I find myself in the middle of a test I cannot escape from, it pays to remember that this is a great opportunity to brush up on discipline, grow in patience, expand my ability to love. And the lessons I learn in the middle of these battles may count for all eternity.
On the test days I find out just how unspiritual I am; but that's good for my pride too. The main thing is to do a little better than last time. If I do, perhaps God will see it and note my progress.
But I'm probably boring you with all this, since this is my special problem. Or is it?
Dave McKay is a co-founder of a Christian community. website: jesuschristians.com
no-contract cleaning service Glenview ..Every time something doesn't go quite right (rather frequently for... Read More
A balanced life not only leaves you feeling more fulfilled;... Read More
? If it takes me to periphery (Drifted into continuous... Read More
Contrary to the popular saying "attitude is everything" attittude is... Read More
Studies show that men and women profit most with having... Read More
Part 1Recently, in a women's therapy group that I run,... Read More
Whether it's the other kids making fun of you at... Read More
"It really works!" "Well, I'll be?!"BJ like so many others... Read More
Every emotion, wether we classify it as good or bad,... Read More
Knowing yourself is the foundation of self-esteem, self confidence and... Read More
The fear of success is more common than some might... Read More
How are you? Where do you get a positive attitude... Read More
Cheri decided that she wanted to grow an apple tree... Read More
When you change your thoughts, you change your life. The... Read More
Lately, I've been hearing that it's not okay to have... Read More
The easiest, most exciting adventure in consciousness follows the lamplit... Read More
Bosses can't control many things at work. In fact, they... Read More
The late Norman Vincent Peale was a controversial preacher who... Read More
Did you ever run into that person that just nags... Read More
James Allen, who wrote the masterpiece, As a Man Thinketh,... Read More
Dear Friends,All human beings have a unique ability right from... Read More
Positive self-esteem is very important if not crucial to our... Read More
There are times that we encounter fearful thoughts that can... Read More
No one becomes successful by accident. Motivational speaker Les Brown... Read More
In frustration it's easy to jump to false conclusions that... Read More
house cleaning company Glencoe ..Aging is a matter of the mind.The years may creep... Read More
So, is this really where you thought you'd be? You're... Read More
Have you ever noticed what can happen if you just... Read More
If you suffer with or have in the past suffered... Read More
One of our most active senses is sight. What we... Read More
When I was a young man, even a teenager for... Read More
Drinking damages the soul; being lustful damages the vitality; greed... Read More
? Make a list of all your accomplishments in life... Read More
"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't... Read More
This week I happened to catch a few minutes of... Read More
It would be pretty hard to become successful without first... Read More
Discover how easy it is to improve your relationships. The... Read More
Each of us has a mind by which we convert... Read More
"Work on your career and you'll make a living. Work... Read More
Dear Friends,All human beings have a unique ability right from... Read More
Striving to improve our self esteem is on everybody's mind.... Read More
Byron and I started our first business full of enthusiasm... Read More
Have you ever felt the whole world was against you?... Read More
Turn brutality into kindness. There is no small deed and... Read More
One of the first things that I work on with... Read More
"We can change our circumstances by a mere change of... Read More
An affirmation is a positive assertion, a solemn declaration, a... Read More
Unhappy moods can be like comfortable sweaters, those old ones:... Read More
Our attitude makes seems to control just about everything about... Read More
Emotions are controlled by a combination of reason and action.... Read More
Positive Attitude Tips |