Attitude is everything

Good morning, everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Live long, live well”

Our Bible verse for today: “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Attitude is everything”

So far in our study this month about living long and living well, we have been thinking about some heavy subjects such as our stewardship responsibility to take good care of our physical body; and about the need for daily exercise; and about maintaining a daily nutrition plan. So, let’s take a moment to lighten-it-up a little.

A couple of months ago, I read a cute little book written by the actor Dick Van Dyke. The title is, “An Optimist’s Guide to a Happy Life: 100 rules for living to 100.” Dick wrote the book as he was turning 100 and it was based largely on his own experience of what it took to live that long, and to live well. About that, he wrote, “I’ve made it to 100, in no small part, because I have stubbornly refused to give in to the bad stuff in life: failures and defeats, personal losses, loneliness and bitterness, the physical and emotional pains of aging, and so much more. That stuff is real, but I have not let it define me. Because, as I see it, to do that would be to throw the towel in on life itself.”

Dick is a funny guy – a comedian on the stage and in life. He is intentional about finding joy and humor in life and then sharing it with others. Also, as we read in the book, he has stayed active. Even in his old age he has continued to act and perform because it is his passion and it gives him a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. He has also stayed involved in projects and causes that are important to him. And even at 100 he still goes to the gym and gets other forms of exercise every day. He also makes it a point to eat right.

But perhaps his greatest asset is his positive attitude. He simply refuses to give in to negative thinking. He chooses joy. He is intentional about filling his life with the things that nurture his soul, and he rejects those things that drain him and steal his joy. A good attitude goes a long, long way towards making a long and happy life.

That’s the picture the Psalmist was painting for us in Psalm 118:24. Each day is a gift from God, and we must make a choice to embrace it, make the best of it, and enjoy it.
Aimee and I begin every day by praying together and we always begin by thanking God for the gift of a new day. We resolve to do what the Psalmist instructs in Psalm 118:24 – to rejoice and to be glad. That’s not always easy because we both lead busy lives and we both have professions that can be challenging and sometimes distressing (me as a pastor and her as a clinical therapist.) Sometimes our days are filled with trying to help others navigate times of family dysfunction, or depression and mental illness, or sickness, and sometimes death. Additionally, we have many of the same personal challenges that everyone else has. So, it’s important for us, as it is for you, to maintain a proper perspective and a good attitude about all that life brings to us. Starting the day by remembering and praying Psalm 118:24 can go a long way towards starting each day with the right attitude.

When it comes to having a good quality of life, attitude is everything. Get your attitude right and the rest of life will be better and easier.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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