Proverbs 31 Womans Devotional - Encouragement for Today

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Encouragement 11-24-04

 


November 24, 2004
Encouragement for Today

My Attitude was Rotten!
Sharon Glasgow, Proverbs 31 Speaker Team

Key Verses

I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn, I can't make myself do right. I want to but I can't. When I want to do good, I don't; and when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway. Now if I am doing what I don't want to, it is plain where the trouble is: sin still has me in its evil grasp.

Oh what a terrible predicament I'm in! Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature? Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord.  He has set me free.  Romans 7:18-20; 25


Devotion

"I'm rotten through and through, yep that's me, rotten to the core." Those were my exact words yesterday when everything seemed to be going wrong. The day was troubled from the start.  I'll spare you the details, I'm sure you've had many of "those" days yourself. I couldn't seem to get a grip on my attitude.  Everyone in my life was caught up in my emotional roller coaster. I have found that my outward attitude is a reliable gauge of what's going on inwardly. 

As soon as the words "rotten to the core" came out of my mouth, I remembered the rest of the verse that I had memorized years ago in Romans 7. Then, God reminded me of the victory plan for bad attitudes. I dropped to my knees and admitted my wrong attitude. I asked God to free me from the chains of a bad attitude. He reminded me through His Word that He had already freed me; I just needed to live the victory.  The circumstances were still pressing against me, so I turned on praise music, asked God to help me have the strength to be positive in the midst of the turmoil, and to do and say the right things.  Everything in my flesh battled against the right attitude.  The battle was won when I obeyed, praised God and reacted correctly!

Here is the emergency plan that I use when my attitude is showing my sinful nature:

Center on Christ and read His Word. His Word has living power that will fill your heart, soul and mind with answers when life is unbearable. Ask God to give you the ability to do right things.

Physically do what you know God is leading you to do, the right thing.

Be positive. It is hard to be positive in our own nature, that's why God gives us His!

Be filled with praise. Praising God refreshes us, strengthens us to run and not be weary. Turn your praise music on!

Be flexible. Flexibility comes from placing our happiness in God's hands instead of our circumstances.

In the power of Jesus' name, rebuke the enemy's plan to defeat you.


"Though my enemy plots evil against me and devises wicked schemes, he will not succeed if I am walking with You, O God. You will make him turn his back when You aim at him with drawn bow. Be exalted, O Lord, in Your strength! I will sing and praise Your might!"  Psalm 21:11-13

The battle was won when I chose to react to my circumstances the right way.  Remember Ephesians 6: 12 when you're being drawn to a bad attitude. It says we are not fighting against flesh and blood, but against powers of darkness and spiritual hosts of wickedness.  So take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand the hard days, and having done all, stand!  Your flesh may be weak but God will give you strength.


My prayer for today:

Lord, thank you for giving me your strength and wisdom when I stumble and fall.  Thank you for never giving up on me when I react in the flesh.  Help me, God, to be the testimony of your power, even on the hardest days. In your holy name, Amen!

Application steps:

Center your thoughts and heart on Christ.

Do what is right; be obedient.

Be positive in the middle of trials.

Praise God.

Be flexible.

Rebuke the enemy.


Reflection points:

Write down what you know the right reaction to your circumstance should be.

Ask God to help you sort your thoughts so that you can act on the wisdom He gives you. 


Power verses:

God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble.  Psalm 46: 1

He gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.  Isaiah 40:29-31

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:9-10


Additional resources:

Coming out of the Dark by Mary Southerland
http://www.gospelcom.net/p31/resources/outofdark.html

Proverbs 31 Woman Magazine
http://www.gospelcom.net/p31/resources/p31woman.html



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