Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Attitude”
Our Bible verse for today: “But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near!” Luke 21:28 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Be tough and do not fear.”
In the last half of Luke chapter twenty-one Jesus was providing a glimpse of the End Times. He described wars and rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes, strange signs in the heavens and tremendous persecution of God’s people. But then in verse 28 He told His listeners that as they see and experience those things they were not to cower or tremble in fear; instead they were to stand up and lift up their heads, confident that their redemption was near.
Jesus intentionally painted a picture of people who were unafraid of threats and challenges, fearless in the face of adversity, and confident that they had victory in Jesus. These were tough people in tough times.
Do you consider yourself to be tough like that? If you’re a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ then you should be tough and unafraid, and you can be. The fearless confidence of God’s people in the face of tough times is one of the most common themes in the Bible. Repeatedly we are told to “Fear not!’. Over and over again on the pages of Scripture we find examples of God’s people facing difficulty with courage and confidence. Those examples are in the Bible to serve as models for us. Those people were no different from you or me. That means that we can handle similar situations the same way that they handled theirs.
Dr. James Loehr is a sports psychologist who spent his entire career studying and working with athletes who seemed to have mastered the ability to stand tall, to hold up their heads, and to push through even the most adverse of challenges. Dr. Loehr said that those people were top athletes because rather than shrinking back or being intimidated by difficulty, they were energized by it. The challenge made them tougher, more determined, and more aggressive. No stooped shoulders, bowed heads, or dragging feet. Instead they would stand tall, head held high, shoulders back, communicating strength, purpose, and confidence. They would talk to themselves and others in a positive way and would entertain no thought of retreat or defeat.
The book Dr. Loehr wrote about his studies is called “Toughness Training for Life”. It’s not a Christian book and some of the athletes he studied were not Christian, although some of them were. However the winning attitude of toughness, resilience, and confidence they displayed is exactly what Jesus was calling for Luke 21:28. It’s exactly what the Bible describes in so many other passages as well. And here’s the thing, as a Christian you have the Holy Spirit of God living within you to help you be tough like that.
Whatever it is you’re facing in life you can have victory over it. You are not a defeated and helpless victim. You are a child of God with the Holy Spirit of God living within you. You can be confident and courageous in the face of whatever you’re dealing with. So stand up! Lift up your head!
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 