It is Monday morning-another week has begun. And how will this week be? Well, a lot of that depends on you. Here is what I mean-one scenario, two opinions on that situation. What is the difference?
Opinion #1: It is Monday morning (as previously stated.) You have another headache for some reason. . . probably slept wrong-again. You are about to get ready for work. It is rainy, and your hair has to be back because you work in food service. . . another bad hair day for sure before you even try (so why try anyways??) All day long you are going to make food for other people-some happy, some grouchy. Because of the rain the day will be slow. Yippee. . . another slowly passing day. You'll leave work tired and stinking like grease. That is what you have to look forward to today.
Opinion #2: Monday morning-a fresh start. A new week to serve others making them food they love (they must love it or they wouldn't come back daily for the same dish.) Ministering to a basic need of all human beings-eating. It is rainy-what an adventure! Rain coats, running through the rain to get into work-what a blessing to have rain since we have had three years of drought! You have a headache again, but that is alright-another opportunity for the Lord to prove Himself strong in your life by giving you the strength and ability to make it through the day. What opportunities will the Lord send your way today?
What is the difference in these two opinions of legendary Monday mornings? Perspective. Opinion one is a "glass half empty" outlook on life. The pessimist. Looking at the negative side of every situation. And as stated in Pride and Prejudice it "savors strongly of bitterness." Life has it difficulties-its bad hair days, headaches, and picky customers. But what about the flip side of all these situations? What is the Lord teaching you in all these "troubles?" (Now grant it-these "troubles" are definitely "first-world" problems. Not torture or death as some people face.) But what about the times of poor health, the times of deep heartache, the times of "drought" of soul? In these times we often look at life from the pessimist's perspective. What is the cure of the bitterness that creeps into our being and clings so tightly to our very souls? Joy. But how can you have joy in the difficult times? You have a choice of the perspective you will take-Are you going to be thankful for the rain or angry about how the rain hinders your day?
In my life here is what I have found. I must make a conscious choice to be joyful, to have the proper perspective-God's perspective-and then He opens my heart to truly feel joyful. Often times (more often than not) I do not "feel" like being joyful, but when I choose to obey Him and rejoice in my circumstances, He changes my heart to have a supernatural type of joy. Sometimes I am not immediately cured of my pessimism. We are growing children of God, and sometimes it takes choosing a heavenly perspective every five minutes. But as you practice choosing joy and are molded daily to look more like Christ, the choice will come more naturally and quickly.
So the next time you are tempted to think pessimistically and be a glass half empty kind of person-flip the perspective. For every negative there is a positive. Pray the Lord to fill your cup with joy, and in so doing fill it to overflowing so your joy spills out and spreads joy to those around you.
