Attitude speaks loudly the character of a person. Maintaining a good attitude requires self discipline and help from a higher power. It just doesn’t happen even with a background of Christian values. It takes working with a positive mind-set to achieve stability. Without it, attitude can change a personality very quickly.
I know a man that walked away from God’s grace and became experienced in “copping an attitude” when Satan controlled his emotions. He believed that unpredictability helped to establish the fine line of demarcation that his peers and others knew not to cross.
Depending how strong the attitude determined the level of intimidation that was displayed. Before long, a rogue attitude developed. Yielding to its control allowed goodness and mercy to slip away. This man was in need of Godly intervention.
His circle of friends tried to understand him, but he purposely remained distant and aloof. His unfriendly, detached behavior made it difficult to know and understand him.
This changing, yet mysterious attitude repelled others, because he was unpredictable. He equated a rogue attitude with power and superiority over others; not allowing weakness or vulnerability to enter the walls that he built around him to protect against emotional involvement, because of past hurts.
The quality of friends he attracted was untrustworthy and capricious. This man trusted no-one but himself. He believed in his own abilities to achieve what was needed to take care of ‘number one’. He thought he knew his limitations and strengths, but the more he allowed a rogue attitude to rule his life, he became a stranger even to himself…doing and saying things that were clearly contrary to God’s way of living.
This misdirection did not happen overnight, but it was through a steady decline of personal standards. He wondered how he had fallen so far from grace as he looked at his decaying existence, while running from God. Misery was knocking down the walls that he had erected to protect him.
Because of a rogue attitude, hatefulness and cruelty escalated. He became more and more acquainted with disappointment and pain, while sinking deeper and deeper into depression and a confused state of mind.
The things he involved himself with ceased to satisfy. Sin had lied to him. It was like sinking slowly in quicksand with no-one around to help him to solid ground. A lonely struggle for self-identity ensued. A person that once knew himself was now asking, “Is this all there is to life?”
Thrashing in despair, peace eluded his grasp, because the world’s idea of supposed happiness was nothing lasting. It was fleeting and temporary. True peace was unattainable in worldly pleasures. His dislike for people grew, because he struggled with inner convictions. The battle that raged within him was a clash between good and evil.
He knew he was doing wrong in the sight of God, but pride and a rebellious spirit caused him to keep God at arm length. Though he felt alone in a crowd, he knew where true peace resided, and that God was the answer for his misery.
God never pushes Himself on anyone, but is waiting patiently with arms outstretched, ready to embrace every weary traveler that calls upon His name.
One lonely night he knelt by his bed and cried out for help. God heard that desperate cry. The man’s words seemed to echo in his mind, but the more he prayed for forgiveness the greater the fervency of his prayer. Conviction was burning in his heart and he wanted deliverance.
Immediately, God came to his rescue and placed his weary soul on solid ground; the “Rock of Ages.” Jesus is this firm foundation and corner stone of liberty and freedom. A rogue attitude was miraculously changed to a giving, loving one. The difference in attitude occurred instantly when he invited Jesus into his heart. God gave him abundant living, with grace restored.
Written by,
Papa Boyd
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