When I woke up at 6, I realized right away the day wasn’t going to go like I’d planned. I turned on the electric kettle to heat water, but the electricity went out. When I went to investigate, I saw the switches had flipped off in our breaker box. I flipped them back on, but they switched off again.
Resigned, I lit our gas stove with a match to heat water for coffee and tried to focus on reading scripture. After a busy weekend of ministry commitments, I’d planned a quiet Monday morning to spend time with God and do some writing.
My morning didn’t go down like I’d hoped. My husband and I spent an hour trying to identify what was causing the electrical failure. Then Jose contacted three electricians before finding one that could actually come that morning. For several hours, we had men walking through the house, trying every socket, checking every appliance.
My job was to keep our dog away from the repairmen and to help my daughter stay positive. I tried not to think about the 105 degree heat with no fan. A few times, I doggedly sat down at my computer to eek out a few lines.
At 12:30, the repairmen discovered our hot water heater had caused the problem. They switched it off before they left. Now I’d have to take a shower with frigid well water.
I realized I had a choice.
Would I stick with my seething attitude and let a bad morning ruin the rest of my day? Or would I choose to be grateful for the blessings of electricity and the cooling power of fans and cold water?
Honestly, I did not turn into Miss Pollyanna Sunshine, but I did my best to choose gratitude. I decided to let go of the expectations I’d had for the morning and make the best of the remaining hours in the day.
Sometimes you just have to choose a positive attitude.
Problems are part of this life. You probably have a lot more to deal with than 6 hours of no electricity and two weeks of frigid showers. Truth be told, I do too. So when life gets challenging, overwhelming, or downright depressing, we have to choose carefully what to think about. What thoughts will we allow to take up residence in our minds?
I’m making this my prayer:
I want to choose gratitude.
Maybe the hot water heater was out of commission 2 weeks, but what about the other 50 weeks I enjoyed hot showers? My kids may drive me crazy sometimes, but they’re healthy and bursting with creative energy.
I’ll choose joy.
I can’t let problems blind me to the fact that there’s joy to be found in the beautiful life God has given me.
I’ll cling to faith.
Fears may assail my heart, but I have a God who can do more than I ask or imagine.
I’m hanging my heart on hope.
Hard things happen, but I’ll place my hope in God who works all things for my good.
I want to choose praise:
When I remember Jesus rescued me from sin and death to give me new and abundant life, cold showers are not a problem.
What about you, friend? What challenges are you facing? What are you thinking about today?
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I’m linking today with Suzie Eller’s “Summer of Permission” series. This is about permission to be myself.
Also linking up with Kelly Balarie’s #RaRaLinkup, Jennifer Dukes Lee’s #TellHisStory, Holley Gerth’s Coffee for your Heart, Crystal Storms’ #HeartEncouragement, Salt and Light with Alisa Nicaud, and Arabah Joy’s Grace and Truth. Check out these communities for more encouragement.
Oh, Dear Betsy, I have to work at having a positive attitude most of the time. Two things help me to rein it in. The prayer of Psalm 19:14 is biggie. The other is the gift of remembrances : this may be bad, but not as bad as when… I wonder if God just shakes His head at His children’s shortsightedness and skewed priorities sometimes. The amazing thing is He loves us anyway! Prayers for an absolutely splendid day!
I love that idea of remembrance, Alice. So wise. We are indeed shortsighted!
Oh, yes.
The still small Voice tells us that we have a decision to make when we’re faced with adversity. And doesn’t it seem as if the little inconveniences hook us into sin more quickly than the actual emergencies?
Thanks for sharing, Betsy!
Yes, it’s true Michele. The little nagging things take me by surprise. I steel myself to stay strong in the really hard times. But neither are any fun! Making that same decision all over to put my eyes on Jesus!
You really put things into perspective, because even though it didn’t go as planned, we are truly blessed!
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
#RaRaLinkup
Yes, Jodie. We ARE blessed!
Thanks for putting things in perspective, Betsy. I appreciate your post, as always.
Thanks for reading and chiming in, Jeannie.
May the words of my mouth & the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my Rock & my Redeemer! (Psalm 19:14) I try to say this each day. I want the Lord to guide not only my footsteps but also how I look at each & every situation that comes up each day so that I will always say and do what the Lord wants me to do.
Thank you!
God bless you!
Wow, Elaine, what a beautiful idea to say it each day. I think I may have to join you!
The verse I pray the most often is Psalm 19:14. It covers what I need to remember: my words and heart must be pleasing to God. That helps me with attitude adjustment-which I need to do constantly-more than anything else.
I guess we’re kindred spirits, Debbie. I love this prayer too, and DEFINITELY need frequent attitude adjustments!
Love this and will be sharing w/a teen we know. 😉 I think it’s yet another piece of the puzzle God’s offering him. Thanks, Betsy! <3
I’m praying for that teen now, Kristi! You know how I love them all. <3
This is so good and corresponds with our ladies bible study on Philippians 4:4-6! When asked to summarize the teaching of this passage in one sentence I wrote “It is possible to find joy in adversity because God has shown us how; we fight for it! We trust that he is in the fire with us and we will survive!” Excellent perspective, Betsy. Thanks for the boost!❤️
Amen, Melinda! Thanks for the boost yourself, friend! I love that summary sentence. It IS possible to find joy in adversity!
As a mama of young ones, choosing joy and gratitude is so important! And so hard sometimes. Thanks for the wonderful reminder. ❤
Oh yes, Laura, I remember the days of littles. Choosing joy and gratitude is also important (and hard!) for moms of teens. 🙂 Grace to you, sister!
I’m hanging my heart on hope.
I love that!
Good luck with the cold showers!
Thanks, Sarah! Mercifully the cold showers ended! It was 2 weeks.
Betsy,
I know I need to choose hope and cling to the fact that God will work all these things together for good….I am still in a lot of pain with my foot almost 4 months out from surgery. After having one failed surgery that left me in pain for 3 years, I have the haunting fear that this surgery will not eventually work either and that constant pain will be my companion. I KNOW God can do more than I can ever ask or imagine, but still living with pain makes it hard to be hopeful some days. Trying to choose a positive and hopeful outlook….
Blessings,
Bev xx
oh Bev, I’m praying for you now. I lived with chronic pain for a year. (I was an invalid at home.) And I remember how pain is depressing day after day. I’m praying grace and full recovery for you. JOY and HOPE.
Ooo, I do not like cold showers! But they have a way of making me more thankful for the hot showers. Thanks for this story and truth, Betsy. We have a choice, and we can choose a positive attitude that glorifies the Lord. Paul chose that in prison! God is just as good everywhere and in everything. Thanks for the reminder!
Yes, God is good every where and in everything! Thanks for that, friend!
It can be such struggle to choose to be positive in the middle. But obstacles come against us every day, and every one is an opportunity to choose. Thank you for the reminder, Betsy, that focusing on the negative only makes things harder, and we have so much to be thankful for.
Thankful for ac and hot water today! Sweet blessings to you!
So true, focusing on the negatives only make life harder! I’m trying to look on the bright side. (Not always easy, I”m sure not for you, either!)
Betsy, yes!! We have a choice, to see the glass half empty or half full, to breathe thanksgiving or mumble and grumble.
I know who I want to be. Thank you for the gentle nudge to keep heading in His direction.
Blessings to you as the weekend approaches …
Yes to half full (and overflowing) glasses! I know who I want to be too!
I was happy to wake up this morning and read this encouragement to have a positive outlook and rejoice in the Lord. Thank you!
Blessings on you, Valerie!
It is a decision we make. We have to choose to see the positive. Spirit lead me… Thanks for showing me your perspective! Blessings, friend!
Inspiring mind-shift to be thankful for the 50 weeks while out for two. I think I’d have a hard time with that one! I’d be boiling water or something. Thanks for your post!
I’m sorry your day had such a bad start! Attitude is almost always a choice. I also noticed how many people were trying to help you get things right again … your husband, the electrician, the workers … sometimes when things are going wrong, we want to pull in and focus on ourselves, which is dishonoring to those who are trying to help.
Yes, you are so right, Christa! I was amazed that we found electricians who could actually come to the house the day of! A rare blessing!
Oh, boy … what day! What a crazy mix! Hot days and frigid showers! (Hopefully the showers will keep your hot flashes at bay for a little while!) Anywho … love, Love, LOVE your Scriptures. I’ve not had the greatest of attitudes the last few days and my heart needs a reset. I think I’m going to write down these verses and put them where I can see them. Love you, Betsy!
My day started off badly and I made a lot of noise about having a bad day. Thanks for the reminder, Betsy, that I have so much to be thankful for.
I know what you mean, Rachel. I can make A LOT of noise about that too! I need to reboot my attitude so often.