Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

"Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."¹

Attitude, as it has been said, is much more important than aptitude. Aptitude says that we can do things, but attitude will determine how well we do them. Aptitude will determine how well we can think, but attitude will determine how well we feel about what we think. Aptitude will help us see things that perhaps others don't see, but attitude will help how we interpret what we see and what we do about it. A person with a healthy, positive attitude can achieve much more with his average aptitude than a person with a highly skilled aptitude but who has a negative and self-defeating attitude.

People with a positive attitude will see the glass half-full and be thankful, while those with a negative attitude will see the glass half-empty and complain about it. Both are correct of course but it's attitude that makes the difference in how they see things. In life we see things not the way they are but the way we are. And if we don't have an honest and realistic attitude, we will distort the most obvious facts to make them match our prejudiced attitude.

Then, of course, there are those who will argue that the glass is twice as big as it needs to be. You can't win with these people because no matter what you say, they will disagree with you because they have a disagreeable attitude.

In all of life it's attitude that makes the difference. Aptitude is a gift. Attitude is a choice.

I like what Michael Josephson of Character Counts said, "So, at least for today, I'm not going to worry that roses have thorns; I'll rejoice that thorns have roses."

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to see the roses on the thorny bush, the rainbow in the rain, and the hidden blessings you have for me in every circumstance. Help me to develop a thankful attitude so that I will put to best use the aptitudes you have gifted me with. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Ephesians 5:20 (NIV).

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