Shooting the Breeze
Every day we have choices to make but sometimes we live as if we are just pawns. We wait for something to happen outside of ourselves to change our circumstances and make us happy.
Every time our turn comes up, some of us give the same response: “Pass.”
We must remember that we have been given the ability to choose – to take initiative, to be proactive, to take responsibility.
We all get a turn.
This is God’s plan.
No one else can take your turn!
We get to choose our attitude.
We get to choose our character.
We get to choose whether or not we are helpless or not.
A powerful example of someone who chose to live his life this way is Victor Frankl.
Victor Frankl was a highly respected psychiatrist in Vienna who lost everything when the Nazis rose to power. They took his home, career and freedom. His parents, brother, and wife – his entire family except his sister – were killed in the gas ovens.
Frankl spent years in Auschwitz where he was beaten, starved, brutalized, and dehumanized; where he saw his companions die daily.
Gradually, emaciated, naked, humiliated, sick, without reasonable hope of liberation or reunion with loved ones, Frankl began to realize that there was one freedom left to him.
He came to realize everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.
He looked for ways to exercise this freedom. He grew very conscious about making choices:
choosing what he would think about,
what memories he would dwell on,
what words he would speak,
how he would say them,
what help he would offer,
how he would respond to humiliation,
how he would walk,
how he would hold his head high.
The Challenge
Pick an area in your life where you can take action. And for ten days choose to honour God in that area.
Maybe it will concern what you choose to feed your mind.
Maybe you will seek to go ten days without complaining, or criticizing or gossiping.
Perhaps for the next ten days what will help you take your turn is to be intensely aware of all the decisions that are open to you.
“Take action. Do something – even if you’re not sure what. Taking action helps prevent sinking into helplessness. Find meaning in suffering. Maybe through your suffering you will be able to help someone else, maybe you will be able to grow stronger; maybe the meaning simply is a conviction that God will be able to bring good out of it that you cannot now see” John Ortberg
Over the next ten days I am going to choose to be sensitive to the fact that I have a choice when it comes to my attitude. I am not going to allow external circumstances to be my excuse for my choice of attitude.
What area are you going to take action in?
***** This post was inspired by John Ortberg’s book When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box
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Definitely with you, Kevin. Circumstances and situations can seem to pile on, but they can’t determine my attitude and the expression of praise from my heart. I choose. Good word! Thanks so much.
Sometimes it’s a choice that I have to make moment by moment.
Thanks for sharing Jason!
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I can truly hope to choose and be consistent with one of my characteristic challenges. My main characteristic problem? Having good intentions to step up higher — and poor follow-through. But, thanks to your reminder, I’ll try again… maybe stop worrying. THAT is a big constant battle.
Joanne Norton recently posted..DAILY BREAD
As the saying goes “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” I am definitely guilty of that too.
Thanks for sharing Joanne!
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God has shown me the path He would have me take. Today I am on that path. He has given me a job to do, and it is one which only I can do.
I have been spinning my wheels for a long time on this, due to the fear of man. From this day forth, I give to HIM ALONE the authority to tell me what to do and the power to feel good about it.
Willena Flewelling
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Overcoming fear is a constant battle for me too. I have to be reminded that when God calls me to do something that He will also provide the strength and resources to do it.
Thanks for sharing Willena!
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I agree Jason that no other people can determine our attitude even if they dont like.. all I can say is that’s life can afford it.. LOL
Fatima Hipolito recently posted..חנוכה
Yep, we are the only ones who can determine our attitude!
Thanks for sharing Fatima!
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Attitude differs in every situation, this is the test of character. It is up to us to choose our reactions if it would be still positive or negative. It doesn’t come up naturally, it can be controlled depending on how you will handle it. Challenges are test of mind and emotions.
Lyka Ricks recently posted..Why Do Galaxies Collide?
It definitely is a test! It is so important to know that we are the only ones who can determine our attitude. No one else can!
Thanks for sharing Lyka!
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When we have challenges we often forget to be grateful for what we already have. I know I’m guilty of this. The example you share is a reminder that it is unlikely that anything we go through could be as bad as what Frankl suffered. If he can focus on his attitude despite his surroundings we can too.
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It is indeed a powerful story. He was a man of true character.
Thanks for sharing Anne!
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Hi Kevin,
Great article. Thanks!
God loves us and He gave us the freedom to make choice, His Love is so great that He doens’t want to control us.
Today I decided to choose happiness.
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Thanks for sharing Edyta!
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There are just some things in our life that are beyond our control. Like the environment, the events, the type of people we encounter. If we happen to be in a difficult situation, we should remain strong and believe we can get through it. God did not create us helpless. We can surpass every trial in this road of life.
Jonathan recently posted..The language of love
Great thoughts Jonathan!
Thanks for sharing!
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Hello Kevin
I choose to take take the challenge and to live in the now experiencing God’s presence, not allowing the past or the future to control my emotions. Thanks for sharing the story of Victor Frankl. In his book “Man’s Search for Meaning”, he concludes that the meaning of life is found in every moment of living. Thanks for the challenge an exercise that enables one to live the meaning of life.
Thanks
Perry A Davis Jr
Music City
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“Living life in every moment of living.”
I love that!
Thanks for sharing Perry!
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Circumstances and situations can seem to pile on, but they can’t determine my attitude and the expression of praise from my heart. I choose. Good word! Thanks so much.
Robert Alan recently posted..How do i win the lottery?
Thanks for sharing Robert!
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Hi Kevin,
Thanks for sharing this inspiring post and the story of Victor Frankl…my Father-In-Law is a survivor of the camps and I have heard some amazing stories.
If these brave individuals survived that ordeal and went on to lead a normal life and achieve many great things, it is a tribute to their inner strength and attitude.
If they can overcome those circumstances, we can overcome our everyday challenges.
Our free will and the ability to make our own decisions and choices will always be in our control.
If we have a strong enough belief system, we can rise to any occasion and hurdle many obstacles and achieve our goals.
Thanks for this powerful post,
Marc
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Great thoughts Marc!
Thanks for sharing.
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