[Faith-talk] FW: [thefamilyoffaith] Coffee Break - Having Your Way

[Eric Calhoun]

Original Message: 
From: "TONY_at_FloridaHealth" <FloridaHealth21 at verizon.net>
To: <tony1.familyoffaith at yahoo.com>
Subject: [thefamilyoffaith] Coffee Break - Having Your Way
Date: 
Thu, 11 Nov 2010 08:01:51 -0500




"Having Your Way"

(Philippians 4:11) - "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have
learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."  

These words were spoken by a man who had been shipwrecked three times,
beaten with rods three times and left for dead, always in peril everywhere
he went and was cast into prison.  They weren't spoken by someone who lived
a life of ease, got everything he wanted and enjoyed things always going
his way.  Yet did you notice his attitude?  I am sure if he had had his way
he would have rather not had to sit in a dark prison dungeon, or been
beaten, or been mocked, or lived in peril, or gone through any of the
hardships he went through.

The fact of life is:  we don't always get what we want.  Things don't
always go the way we plan or hope.  We don't always get our way about
everything.  As I just said, that's a fact of life, so that is not the
issue.  The issue is "attitude".  What happens when you don't get your way?
 How do you handle it?  What type of attitude do you exhibit?  How do you
respond in those times?  Do you pout?  Do you get angry?  Do you curse?  Do
you throw things?  Do you let everyone know it?  Do you make life miserable
for those around you?  Do you look for ways to try to manipulate the
situation until you get your way?  

We all want our way- that is part of our selfish, centered-nature, fallen
nature.  But when we come to Christ and are born again we become a "new
creation"- old things are passed away, all things become new.  We now have
a "new life"- the life of Christ.  It is no longer I, but Christ living in
me.  Paul exhibited what that means.  He was one who was used to getting
his way, but when he met Christ things changed and it was no longer about
him getting his way.  Later he penned these words, "I have learned... to be
content."  

Having a Christ-like attitude doesn't just automatically happen, it comes
through a process of yielding, surrendering and submitting to God, through
letting His word govern our lives, through denying our flesh, through
renewing our minds, through letting the Holy Spirit change us.    

Again, let me repeat- you are not always going to get your way about
everything.  But when you don't what kind of attitude are you going
exhibit?   One that is selfish, focused only on what you want?  Or one that
is Christ-like and will glorify Him?

Have a great day.  It isn't about whether you get what you want or not,
it's about your attitude when you don't.  

For further reading:
2 Corinthians 11:23-28; 5:17
Galatians 2:20
Colossians 3:3-10

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
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