Attitudes and Actions. They work together, or rather one fuels or directs the other. Think about it, what you are thinking about plays a huge part in how you act. That’s why God tells us in His word what we are to think of in Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”

This morning I was praying before I got out of bed and then again in the shower. As I was getting ready for work, God brought to mind some of the things I had been praying about and that they are all part of either an attitude or action.

There are many things going on in my life right now and I have found myself entertaining doubt. I’ve wondered, Will God do this? Will He do that? Am I really in His Will or following after my own selfish desires? Knowing that we’ve prayed and prayed and felt God’s leading, Satan is always around trying to convince us of lies. One of his names is “Father of Lies”. God reminded me this morning of the words of James 1:6 that say “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord, he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” So…get on out of here Satan, I’m not believing in what I see, but in what I know – or more specifically, WHO I KNOW! Hebrews 11:1 tells us “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” I am going to praise God for the answer I don’t even see yet and not doubt for a minute that He will provide the answers – the best answers! After all, He knows the whole picture, I only see a small portion.

Another area where I realized Satan was tempting me was with fear. I’m not normally a fearful person but sometimes we can fear the unknown and not even acknowledge that it is fear. I don’t know about you but I tend to like to know the plan. I’m a planner and organizer by nature and maybe it’s a control thing that I have to struggle with to give up. Regardless, fear does NOT come from God. In face this is what God says about fear in 1 John 4:16-19 “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the Day of Judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.”  Fear not – My God is With Me!

It all boils down to our relationship with God through Christ Jesus. If we are His Children, we can stand on his promises, recite them to ourselves over and over again. He is true to His Word. God can be trusted. We must have faith and not doubt. We must be courageous and not fear. WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!

So, if you, like me, have ever entertained doubt or fear – read God’s Word, hide it in your heart (Psalm 119:11) and then stand firm in the armor He provides (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Let’s make sure our attitudes and actions work together for good, for God, for His Glory and His Kingdom! Let’s walk forth in confident joy!