Sometimes my glass is half empty. I don’t like it, but I have a tendency to see the negative of life sometimes instead of the positive. I criticize and tear down instead of encourage and build up. I recognize this about myself and am working to change. I surround myself with positive people and have made strides in changing my attitude. However, it’s still not my natural tendency to be positive.
Studies show people that have a positive attitude have a better life, better brain and enjoy life more. Who wouldn’t want all of that! But it’s more than just a positive attitude. It’s having the attitude of Christ.
When all I see is negative, I’ve learned to recognize that’s not God speaking in my mind. James 4 is a great book to read about this:
Verse 4 says “If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of the God.” Wow. “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come close to God and God will come close to you.” says verses 7-8. Further along is verse 17’s warning “Remember it is a sin to know what to do and then not do it.” And my favorite of the whole chapter is the later portion of verse 2”…Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.”
So when I regress into my glass half empty attitude, it’s because my sinful nature is pulling me in that direction. I need to make a purposeful choice to resist the enemy, come close to God and He will come close to me. If I don’t do this, even though I know I should, I am only sinning more.
A revelation I had about my attitude was this: I know I ask God for guidance, but I don’t always heed the directions He clearly gives in His Word. When I slip back into doing “my choice” instead of God’s it’s glass half empty time. When I follow his lead however, God guides me and fills my empty glass.
I hear God telling me to trust, be purposeful, positive and patient. I just need to do it. I will keep on trying with His help, because I don’t like the me that is half empty. I prefer the me God keeps on filling.