“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. ‘Eat and drink!’ he says to you, but his heart is not with you.”

— Proverbs 23:7

A student of flying was taking his first solo flight. All went well until he had to land his plane. Suddenly, he heard a voice over the radio saying, “Correct your attitude.” He thought to himself, “My attitude? My attitude is just fine.” Because the student didn’t heed his flight instructor’s warning, he crashed his plane.

After the crash, his instructor showed him this definition for “attitude” in the flight manual: “the plane’s inclination toward the earth.”

Our inclination toward life can destroy us or make us successful. Why? Because our attitudes affect our relationships with others, with ourselves, and with God. Chuck Swindoll, a popular radio preacher, once said, “I am convinced that life is ten percent what happens to me, and ninety percent how I react to it.”

A young lady once came to her pastor with a problem. She said, “I have the meanest, orneriest, most foul-mouthed father-in-law you’ve ever seen, and he lives with us. Whenever he gets mad, he curses me. I have not been a Christian very long, and I’ve got a temper of my own. I’m about ready to let him have it. What can I do?”

The pastor asked, “What does he like to eat?”

She replied, “Fudge. He likes fudge.”

The pastor said, “The next time he curses you, fix him some fudge.”

About a week later, the father-in-law was sitting in the kitchen when the young lady accidentally splashed some hot food on him. He began cursing her. However, she remained calm, prepared some fudge, and handed it to him. At first, he just looked at it. But after a while, a big tear dripped off his cheek and splashed onto the plate of fudge. Then he put his arms around his daughter-in-law and said, “Daughter, I want you to forgive a mean, ugly, old man.” This woman had the joy of leading her angry, ornery father-in-law to the Lord right there in her kitchen. Why? Because she exhibited a loving attitude.

Do you need to correct your attitude today? Change your attitude, and you can change your world.

“A man’s life is what his thoughts make it.”
Marcus Aurelius

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

— Matthew 6:12

When was the last time someone hurt you? What has been your response to that person since that event? Are you holding onto a grudge, or have you forgiven that person for the pain he or she caused you? God clearly directs us to forgive people who have wronged us. But forgiving people is so difficult, especially when we still feel hurt by their choices. Nevertheless, we must obey God’s command. So how do we obtain a forgiving spirit, willing to release even the worst offender from any debt owed us? Here are some steps that can help:

1. Avoid seeking revenge. Remember God has said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” Leave retribution in His hands.
2. Release people from human judgment. It’s so easy to judge others when they have hurt us. But God is the ultimate judge. Shall we usurp the judgment of the Creator of the universe?
3. Reconcile with the offender. The Bible says, “Be reconciled to thy brother.” As this is not always possible, the Bible also says, “inasmuch as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.”
4. Pray for your enemies’ good. Jesus said, “Pray for them which despitefully use you.” Do you pray for the good of those who hurt you?
5. Love your enemies. Difficult as it sounds, we must treat our enemies with Christ’s love. Fortunately, God doesn’t leave us to our own devices on this one; He enables us to do it.
6. Overcome evil with good. The Scripture says, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” What a tremendously powerful concept that is. Resolve to do good to others, even if they’ve breached your trust.

Is there someone whom you cannot forgive? Then, my friend, you need to ask Jesus Christ for His power to forgive that person. Let Christ’s love work through you. Then, if you still find forgiving that person difficult, look into the face of Him who hung on the cross and said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

“Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea,
until they have something to forgive.”
C. S. Lewis

“Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, ‘Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.’”

— Numbers 13:30

Have you ever faced a daunting task, one that looked not even remotely feasible? At times like this, God, who can do the impossible, wants us to have faith in His presence and in His ability to see us through.

The ancient Israelites serve as an excellent example of what not to do under pressure. Faced with an overwhelming task, they failed to respond in faith. Moses had just sent twelve spies (one representative from each tribe) into the land to spy it out and bring back intelligence reports concerning the nature and strength of their adversaries. After some days, the spies returned from their trip throughout Canaan. They gave two reports: the majority report given by ten and the minority report given by two, Joshua and Caleb.

The majority report said: “It [the land] truly flows with milk and honey . . . Nevertheless the people who dwell there are strong; the cities are fortified.” Upon hearing that, Caleb could not restrain himself. He had heard enough negative nonsense. He leaped to his feet and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” But the ten other spies shot back: “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature.” Then the people’s hearts melted within them; all night they “raised their voices and wept aloud.” Joshua and Caleb submitted the minority report, reminding the Israelites that with God’s help, they could take the land. But the people wouldn’t listen. These two men were the only ones with faith in God. And they became the only ones from that generation who eventually entered the Promised Land.

These two men based their faith on God’s promises. That’s how they overcame their fears and fought to enter the Promised Land. We need to do the same thing. When circumstances overwhelm you and the task at hand is daunting, place your full faith in God and trust that He will deliver you into your promised land.

“With God, go over the sea—without
Him, not over the threshold.”
Russian Proverb

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

— 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

As Christians we have an incredible event to anticipate—Christ’s second coming. Why do we know this will happen? Because more than three hundred times in the New Testament, the Scriptures very boldly state that Jesus Christ will return; even more prophecies are found in the Old Testament concerning His second Advent. And Jesus Himself declared it unequivocally, “I will come again, and receive you unto myself.” History marches on to that very moment; His return will be the great climax of all time.

Are you ready for it?

Every Sunday for centuries, the Christian Church around the world has confirmed Christ’s second coming. In the Apostles’ Creed, we declare, “From thence He (Jesus) shall come to judge the quick and the dead.” This is confirmed by the Nicene Creed, the Constantinople Creed, the Westminster Confession, the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England, the Augsburg Confession, and all of the other great confessions of the Church. Jesus Christ is coming back to this world.

Are you prepared?

Although we know for certain that this event will happen, we don’t know when. Numerous people have claimed to figure out the exact day and time. (Imagine that—the angels don’t even know, but people rush in where angels fear to tread, and they proclaim both year and date.) But the Scripture says that Jesus will come at an hour when we won’t expect Him. He’ll come suddenly, like a thief in the night. He might come today or a thousand years from now.

Either way we must be ready. Would you want the Lord to come today? Are you ready to be in His presence? From now on, live each day as if it’s the day He’ll return.

“His [Jesus’] teaching on the subject quite clearly consisted
of three propositions: 1. That he will certainly return.
2. That we cannot possibly find out when.
3. And that therefore we must always be ready for him.”
C. S. Lewis

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

— John 15:13

As human beings we go through an enormous variety of emotions. Feelings are part of life’s color; when we don’t feel anything, life can seem flat and drab.

As tough as it is to admit, loving our Lord falls in this category. While His love for us is constant and eternal, some days, because we are human and sinful beings, we don’t naturally feel a sense of love overflowing toward Him.

When we find loving our Lord difficult, how can we renew our love for Him? We do this by remembering His suffering for us. I am amazed at how glibly we repeat those words, “Christ died for my sins,” without considering the incredible truth contained therein. When we remember Christ’s anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane, the agony He suffered at the hands of the high priest and Pontius Pilate, the excruciating death He endured on the cross, then love for our Lord and Savior should flood our hearts. This is why the Lord’s Supper is so important. It reminds us of His sufferings on our behalf. When we fix our minds on that thought—that our Creator died for us—our love for Him will be renewed.

Whenever you feel that your love for the Lord has grown cold, climb the mountain of Calvary and breathe in the fresh air from Heaven. This will renew your soul and increase your spiritual vitality.

“I love Thee, because Thou has first loved me, And purchased
my pardon on Calvary’s tree. I love Thee for wearing the
thorns on Thy brow; if ever I loved Thee, My Jesus ’tis now.”
William R. Featherstone

“In whom we have redemption … the forgiveness of sins.”

— Colossians 1:14

Have you ever felt so guilty you couldn’t look someone in the eye? Guilt is tremendously motivating. While the possibility of feeling guilty may not stop us from doing something wrong, once we feel guilty, we’ll do almost anything to avoid being found out. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of the famed fictitious detective Sherlock Holmes, once played a terrible practical joke. He wrote an unsigned letter and mailed it to twelve prominent men. It said, “All is discovered. Flee at once!” Within forty-eight hours all of them had left the country. Guilty.

Though people in our society rarely use the word “sin” in conversation anymore, we can’t get rid of guilt, and it has a powerful effect on us. Guilt weakens and destroys. It can create a sense of anxiety—a nameless, unknown fear. It can produce a depression that hangs over our heads like a black rain cloud. It can make us feel unclean, soiled, worthless. It can give us such a poor self-image that we become our own worst enemies. Guilt can even create physical illness; after David sinned with Bathsheba, he said, “My bones grew old through my groaning all day long” (Psalm 32:3).

There is a difference between guilt and guilt feelings. You may have bad feelings even though you’re not guilty. Psychiatrists may help you get rid of guilt feelings, but they don’t know how to handle guilt. Many of them don’t even like the word. They use “confused” or “mixed up priorities” instead. But the Bible says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). Our guilt is so permanent, it seems engraved in granite. We cannot blame it away. We cannot push it down or trade it for another emotion.

We can get rid of our guilt in only one way—by asking Christ for forgiveness. Do you need to ask His forgiveness for something today? Confess to Him, and unburden your heart. Allow Him to wash you perfectly clean.

“What can wash away my sins? Nothing but
the blood of Jesus. What can make me pure
within? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
Mary Runyon Lowry

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

— Philippians 4:13

Do you dream big dreams for your life? If you were given absolute assurance of success, would you act on those dreams? Well, God has promised us such victory. Read Paul’s claim from Philippians again: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” What an incredible promise. But all too often we talk ourselves out of our dreams with two simple words: “I can’t.” These words of unbelief crush our dreams. Instead of trusting God’s promise to strengthen us for all things, we rely on our own volition, our education, our physical prowess, or perhaps even our social standing. And when we perceive a lack of resources to accomplish our dreams, we fail to even try.

Jesus said, “Without me ye can do nothing.” If we ever want to fulfill our dreams, we must keep our eyes on Jesus Christ. And as we do, the possibilities are limitless. But first, we must align our aspirations with God’s Word and with His will for us. Second, we must steadfastly work toward our goal, never losing sight of it. Paul serves as a great example of this two-step strategy. He had a dream that every nation, tongue, and tribe would know the Gospel. Paul’s goal was completely in line with God’s truth. And despite his suffering as he strove toward his goal, Paul never lost sight of it. Because of his perseverance and his reliance on God’s strength, Paul’s dream lives on as the Good News continues to spread to the ends of the earth.

God intended His children to soar like eagles. He wants us to live in His world of infinite possibilities, relying on His strength to make our dreams realities. Do you have a dream, something you think you could never achieve? Then ask God for strength to achieve it. As you set your faith in God and seek His will, He will make your dreams come true.

“For they conquer who believe they can.”
Virgil

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

— 2 Timothy 2:15

Someone once wrote out the Constitution of the United States, using longhand to achieve an amazing effect. As you read the document, you see just the words. But if you move back from it, you get another picture—a beautiful portrait of George Washington made by the variation of light and dark pen strokes. It is a magnificent work of art.

So it is with the Bible. When we first read it, we may see only stories about seemingly unrelated things. But after a while we discover that all of Scripture points to Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. The Old Testament foretells His coming; the Gospels describe His coming; the Epistles explain the reasons for His coming. As we look at the big picture of the Bible, we should see Jesus Christ.

Every Christian wanting an intimate relationship with Jesus needs to read and study God’s Word daily. And yet, so often we don’t study His Word at all. Imagine claiming to love someone who fights a battle in a far-off land. If that person wrote you letters, would you leave them sitting unopened on the coffee table? Of course not. You’d rip them open right away, read them, and read them again. Well, somewhere in our houses sit sixty-six love letters from God, from Genesis to Revelation. If we love God, let’s make sure we read those letters.

Set aside time regularly to delve into God’s Word, meditating upon it and hiding it in your heart. Get the Bible handbooks and dictionaries that supplement serious study of His Word. As you get to know the Bible better, you’ll discover more about and draw closer to the central figure of that book, Jesus Christ.

“The New Testament is the very best book that
ever was or ever will be known in the world.”
Charles Dickens

“For with God nothing will be impossible.”

— Luke 1:37

Do you face a difficulty today that seems impossible to resolve? For a bit of encouragement, consider one of God’s choice servants who believed that God would accomplish the impossible for him.

C.T. Studd was born in England into great wealth and was educated at Cambridge. While at university, Studd became the premier cricket player in all of Great Britain. He then devoted his life to Christ and the mission field, becoming one of the greatest missionaries ever.

Studd set sail for China in 1885. Upon his arrival, this English aristocrat resolved to become Chinese. He donned a Chinese robe, shaved his head (all but a pigtail), and lived like the poorest of the Chinese. Through this experience he learned a great lesson: He could trust God to provide for all of his needs. God used Studd mightily in China, bringing many to Christ.

After years of loyal service in China, Studd felt the Lord calling him to India. This was remarkable, for seldom does a missionary go from one great field to another. Studd’s father had made a fortune seeking gold in India; now the son wanted to seek souls for Christ. So Studd labored hard for Christ in India. After six years his health began to wane, so he returned home to England. But even his failing health couldn’t impede the vision God had given him. Against the wishes of family, friends, and his doctor, Studd set sail for Africa, not once but twice. There, just as he had done in other lands, he brought many to the living Savior.

C.T. Studd was a man of great faith. He wasn’t interested in pursuing things that seemed possible; He believed that God would do impossible things through him. What a difference each one of us could make if we, too, remembered that nothing is impossible for God. As you face challenges beyond your strength and abilities, keep this old saying in mind: “God and I can do anything God can do alone.”

“Christ wants not nibblers of the possible,
but grabbers of the impossible.”
C.T. Studd

“… this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

— 1 John 5:4

Do you ever feel overcome by the cares of the world? We may often feel on the brink of defeat, but God has destined that we overcome the world. What does “world” mean in this context? It stands for the worldly system under Satan’s rule with all its lust, greed, animosity, and self-centeredness. This world system is antithetical to Christ and must be overcome.

But how do we overcome it? Through faith. As a well-known hymn declares: “Faith is the victory . . . that overcomes the world.” We can only overcome the world when we entrust our lives to Christ, the first to overcome the world. I’m sure that as John wrote the words of our text (1 John 5:4), he hearkened back to that solemn night—the night Jesus went into Gethsemane before He was arrested, stripped, and nailed to a cross. After Jesus and the disciples had finished their supper that night, Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). What an astonishing statement. Jesus had none of this world’s goods; He didn’t even have a place to lay His head. The Jewish leaders hated Him and would soon arrest and crucify Him. And yet Jesus said, “I have overcome the world.”

Jesus Christ was an overcomer. Refusing to be deceived or defeated by this world, He fixed His eyes on the eternal kingdom of God. We should do the same. When you feel that the world is getting the best of you, remember that Christ has overcome the world on your behalf. Have faith in Christ, and claim your victory.

“Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine.
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, wast at our side, all glory be Thine!”
“We Gather Together” (Thanksgiving Hymn)