Check Your Attitude
By Pastor Chuck Swindoll
Change Our Hearts, Lord
“I realize now in my life from Your teaching me, Lord, that attitude really is at the core of everything. Where it has become soiled and spoiled, I pray that You will clean it up. Get it back on its right feet. Change our hearts, Lord, so that we see the great things You’re still doing while not ignoring the challenge and the demands of the responsibilities.”
Pursue an Attitude of Gratitude
“Conquer your attitude before you step into service full-time. If you don’t, you’re going to be part of the problem. We don’t need any more fighters. We need builders. Those excited about what God’s doing. Attitude of gratitude. The spirit that says I can do this by the grace of God.”
Moses Hits Rock Bottom
“He is at the bottom. When you get there, it’s a little frightening. We’ve all been there. You especially experience this when you’re surrounded by negativism. Before long, it just comes in on you like a flood. These are the same people who have just been celebrating the exodus. Now they hit a few challenges along the way, and it’s like, where is God? Why in the world did we ever leave that comfortable place? And by the way, while they were there [in Egypt], they hated it.”
A Glass-Half-Empty Perspective
“The Israelites have manna coming out the wazoo. I mean, every day they want to have something to eat. All they got to do is wait till the morning caterer arrives. It’s going to come; it’s going to be fresh. I know. They have to go back to Moses, you know, his wife’s thousand and one ways to cook manna cookbook in order to know how to keep it fresh. They sliced it and baked it and eaten it raw and put it in sandwiches and tried every way in the world to make it tasty and they’re getting sick and tired of manna. And that’s all their focus . . . the glass is half empty.”
Recognize the Many Blessings
“Learn to tough it out. Learn to stay. Stay and watch the cloud and eat the manna and trust your God. Face it, our blessings have far outnumbered our testings. Our future is far more exciting than our past. Our training is far ahead of the majority of those in the world who would love to know their Bibles. And I suggest we continue to stay positive about it. That glass isn’t just half full, it’s almost all the way full.”
Additional Resources
First, sign up for our Chuck’s Insights on Ministry email where we bring you his best thoughts on preaching, leadership, and ministry each week. By signing up, you’ll instantly receive a one-page checklist with 20 preaching insights from Chuck. See this page’s sidebar.
Second, check out our new Preach The Word articles and video series on YouTube where we’re teaching Chuck’s best insights on this important calling.
Third, listen to Chuck’s messages to those in ministry through our Seminary Chapels page. For decades, he offered students at Dallas Theological Seminary his best thoughts on church leadership and ministry. Now, we have put them at your fingertips. Also, you can find them through this YouTube playlist we created for you.
Fourth, if you don’t own a copy of Chuck’s book on preaching, Saying It Well, we highly recommend you add it to your library. It’s his preaching memoir that is also like a practical preaching manual. You won’t be able to put it down.
About the author
Pastor Chuck Swindoll
Pastor Charles R. Swindoll has devoted his life to the accurate, practical teaching and application of God’s Word. He is the founding pastor of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, but Chuck’s listening audience extends far beyond a local church body. As a leading program in Christian broadcasting since 1979, Insight for Living airs around the world. Chuck’s leadership as president and now chancellor emeritus at Dallas Theological Seminary has helped prepare and equip a new generation of men and women for ministry.
