More Precious Than Gold
Words of Strength, Encouragement, and Wisdom
by
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Do the Happy Dance
"Consider how your attitude contributes to someone else’s day. The truth is that your attitude directly affects whether or not you are a blessing or a curse."
—Pastor Charles Swindoll
Did Jesus ever dance? We don’t know for sure. Many think He probably danced at the wedding in Cana where He performed His first miracle and turned water into wine. Yet the kind of dancing we’re talking about here has to do with your attitudes not about you gliding gracefully on the dance floor. But certainly you can always crank up the music and dance in the morning. That’s a great way to start off your day. And, how do you start your day? Frankly, you can get up and be depressed and crabby or you can get up and choose to be happy. Doing the happy dance is all about enjoying every moment, being good to others, and seeing that the glass is half full. Grumpy? You can always flip the switch to happy and choose to have a good attitude even in the midst of your most difficult times. It’s really up to you.
What about Jesus? What attitudes did Jesus have and leave for us to follow?
Jesus’ Attitude
For three short years Jesus walked the earth healing and teaching. One thing you can say about Him, Jesus was always approachable. Being approachable is a really important thing. Why? People don’t come to you with their concerns and wanting to be healed if you have a crabby, negative, “don’t bother me attitude.” No. Jesus was never like that! He knew people needed kindness and love. And on top of everything, Jesus was humble. He was also patient and treated women as first-class citizens in a day when that wasn’t so.
What Does Jesus Expect From Us?
When you become a follower of Christ you have a new heart, a new mind, and a new life in Christ. All that said, so now what type of attitudes does God expect you to have in this new life of yours? Jesus expects you to follow His example. Jesus had a special kind of patience and compassion. He took time to look around and care about others. Jesus had a unique ability in that He slowed down enough to notice, but he certainly didn’t sit around. He was out walking. He was moving in the towns and in the countryside. And in the middle of his activity, he noticed people.
Jesus demonstrated an active compassion for others. Active compassion means actually getting involved in someone’s problem by helping them to find a solution. Read the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. This good fellow helped the traveler who was beaten and robbed traveling on this way from Jerusalem to Jericho. Everyone else could have cared less for they avoided the traveler in need of help including a priest. But as Christians, we are to have the compassionate attitude that the Good Samaritan had. That means we are not to turn a blind eye to the problems we see in our world. No! We are to get out there and help when people are left homeless, unemployed, or abused. We are to help the victims of sex trafficking and to help the widow and the orphans and more. That’s what active compassion is all about – lending a hand to others in need and seeing them through until they can get on their feet again.
But let’s be realistic. Hurry is a part of our culture. So allow some extra time in your schedule so you can slow down enough to notice others and help with their needs. That’s exactly what Jesus did.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had. Romans 15:5 ~ (NIV)
Devotion
Jesus gave love and kindness to others and He shared the truth with those who wanted to hear it. Before you go out the door each day, put a smile on your face and one in your heart! Those are the best things you could ever wear. Attitude is everything! And that’s precisely why you need to hang out with God today and every day and practice your happy dance moves too!
Meditate on the scriptures and quote below regarding “Attitudes of Christ.” What attitudes did Jesus exhibit and set as examples for us? Record any thoughts if you wish.
o Walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us. ― Ephesians 5:2 (AMP)
o "We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude." —Chuck Swindoll
○ "Are we called to be like Noah? Yes. Are we called to be like the Good Samaritan? Yes. But not simply because they are positive examples to inspire us to righteousness. These stories point us to Christ"87.
o See also: Matthew 6:33, 9:27, 14:14; Luke 10:36-37; Philippians 2:3; Philippians 2:5.
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About the Book
Have you ever thought that perhaps God wants to do a greater work in your heart instead of just fixing your problems? Or have you ever wanted to know God in a more meaningful way? Well, you can find both the wisdom and truth that you seek in my new book, More Precious Than Gold.
Filled with thirty unique essays and devotions, my inspiration to write this book came from hearing a doctor talk about how much our culture has changed and the impact it’s had on all of us. So tucked into the back of the book you’ll find some great exercises just before the Spiritual Connections section. They’ll help keep you from the snares of our culture and guide you to the green pastures of peace and tranquility that you need. You’ll also enjoy messages that offer a fresh perspective so you can live life with more passion including: Happy Habits, An Anchor of Hope, Choose to Forgive, A New Mental Toughness, Wholeness ▪ Healing, Take a Drink of Great Happiness, Unspeakable Joy, Find the Gift, New Beginnings, The Green Bean Club, and more.
So, dear friend, come and spend time with the most trustworthy friend of all — God. You’ll not only learn about Him, but you’ll find He’s a God who loves you and longs for you to draw near to Him.
—Nanci J. Gravill
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.James 4:8a – ESV
About the Author
I have always loved words. That’s because I’ve always recognized their ability to encourage, bring about change, and give hope. With more than forty years of writing experience, I’ve used my creative gifts to teach language arts in three public school districts and at Cuyahoga Community College Western Campus, teaching seniors about writing. In the corporate sector, any employer that found out that I could write and loved it put me to work! I’ve written a variety of projects over the years, including technical reports, magazine articles, restaurant reviews for Northern Ohio Live magazine, newsletters, form letters, press releases, radio shows, fundraiser materials, sales literature, all sorts of promotional materials, poems, greeting card copy, song lyrics, and two books, Fresh Hope … Cleveland (2012) and now my first devotional book, More Precious Than Gold. I earned a bachelor of arts degree in promotional communications from Cleveland State University and three years toward another degree in individual and family development (Kent State University). You can read more about the book on my current blog at nancigravill.wordpress.com.