How Can You Fight Off A Stinking-Bad Attitude?

Peering through the window, my heart dropped. Clouds hid the sun as the trees danced in the wind. Typical for a spring day, the weather had turned chilly. 

A similar storm began brewing in my spirit. My husband and I had planned to attend an outdoor gathering with friends. But the thought of sitting outside on a windy, cold day dampened my spirit. 

After years of suffering from bouts of vertigo, I’ve learned wind can trigger an episode. But after social distancing for over a year, an in-person gathering felt too important to miss. 

I’ve found only one thing worse than struggling with a bad attitude: being in the presence of a good one. The more I pouted, the more my husband’s cheerfulness grated on my nerves. Undaunted by the storm, he continued packing our car and getting everything ready.

One part of me, the reasonable, logical part, understood. An avid outdoorsman, my husband loves to be outside in almost any weather. And although he has watched me suffer, my husband does not personally know the debilitating effects of vertigo. It’s hard to understand another person’s pain ~ especially one you’ve never experienced. 

While it is unrealistic to expect others to fully understand our pain, the Bible tells us Jesus understands our every weakness and is always available to help us. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Although the Bible does not specifically say Jesus struggled with vertigo, the Scriptures do describe a time when He wrestled with a less-than-enthusiastic attitude. Before going to the cross, Jesus spent three hours in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. These prayers transformed His attitude.

State of Resistance

Jesus’ first prayer revealed a resistance to the task before Him. He respectfully asked God to take it away:

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39 NIV)

State of Resignation

Jesus’ second prayer moved His attitude from resistance to resignation. At the end of this prayer, Jesus became willing to go to the cross:

He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” (Matthew 26:42 NIV)

State of Reconciliation

After the third prayer, Jesus’ attitude shifted again. With His attitude fully reconciled to the will of His father, He resolutely stepped out to meet His fate:

So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” (Matthew 26:44-46 NIV)

As I followed Jesus’ example, my attitude shifted from resistance, to resignation, and finally reconciliation. Life is so much sweeter with a positive attitude.

When stinking-bad attitudes pop up in the road ahead, I want to follow the Lord’s example and fight them off through prayer. Wherever the road leads you, I pray you can do the same.