Attitude Is Everything

Today will be what I make it.
Regardless of the weather, the kinds of work to be done, the personalities crossing my path, I'll feel joy and peace if that is my choice.
Depression, anger, fear, and frustration shadowed my steps because I didn't take control of the only thing that's ever been in my control absolutely - attitude.
It's so easy to blame others for every wrinkle in my life.
But as I grow accustomed to the idea of taking full responsibility for how I think and feel, I'll be empowered.
And, as Abraham Lincoln is credited with saying, we will be just as happy as we make up our minds to be.
Nobody can mess with my attitude but me!

Empowered to Pray

Prayer is the gift of the Spirit.
Often we wonder how to pray, when to pray, and what to pray.
We can become very concerned about methods and techniques of prayer.
But finally it is not we who pray but the Spirit who prays in us.

Paul says:
"The Spirit ... comes to help us in our weakness, for, when we do not know how to pray properly, then the Spirit personally makes our petitions for us in groans that cannot be put into words; and he who can see into all hearts knows what the Spirit means because the prayers that the Spirit makes for God's holy people are always in accordance with the mind of God" (Romans 8:26-27).

These words explain why the Spirit is called "the Consoler."

-- Henri Nouwen

Empowered to Be

Who are we?
Are we what we do?
Are we what others say about us?
Are we the power we have?

It often seems that way in our society.
But the Spirit of Jesus given to us reveals our true spiritual identities.
The Spirit reveals that we belong not to a world of success, fame, or power but to God.
The world enslaves us with fear; the Spirit frees us from that slavery and restores us to the true relationship.

That is what Paul means when he says:
"All who are guided by the Spirit of God are sons [daughters] of God, for what you received was not the spirit of slavery to bring you back into fear; you received the spirit of adoption, enabling us to cry out, 'Abba, Father!'" (Romans 8:15).

Who are we?

We are God's beloved sons and daughters!

-- Henri Nouwen