Attitude Is Everything

I have seen that phrase on bumper stickers and T-shirts. It usually reveals a proud attitude. It implies that the best and most successful attitudes are selfishness, dominance, rebelliousness, independence and assertiveness. Those are the exact opposite of what a Christian*s attitude should be. The wisest and most mature Christians have an attitude of total dependence upon God. I have encountered unbelievers who consider me proud. When I am securely and totally dependent upon the Lord they mistake my security in Him for confidence in myself. Even if I tell them I am just a dirt-bag that was forgiven they often continue to believe I am proud of myself.

Spurgeon*s devotional on Jonah 2:9 describes my relationship with the Lord better than I can. Salvation is of the Lord. *Salvation is the work of God.* It is He alone who quickens the soul *dead in trespasses and sins,* and it is He also who maintains the soul in its spiritual life. He is both *Alpha and Omega.* *Salvation is of the Lord.* If I am prayerful, God makes me prayerful; if I have graces, they are God*s gifts to me; if I hold on in a consistent life, it is because He upholds me with His hand. I do nothing whatever towards my own preservation, except what God Himself first does in me. Whatever I have, all my goodness is of the Lord alone. Wherein I sin, that is my own; but wherein I act rightly, that is of God, wholly and completely. If I have repulsed a spiritual enemy, the Lord*s strength nerved my arm. Do I live before men a consecrated life? It is not I, but Christ who liveth in me. Am I sanctified? I did not cleanse myself: God*s Holy Spirit sanctifies me. Am I weaned from the world? I am weaned by God*s chastisements sanctified to my good. Do I grow in knowledge? The great Instructor teaches me. All my jewels were fashioned by heavenly art. I find in God all that I want; but I find in myself nothing but sin and misery. *He only is my rock and my salvation.* Do I feed on the Word? That Word would be no food for me unless the Lord made it food for my soul, and helped me to feed upon it. Do I live on the manna which comes down from heaven? What is that manna but Jesus Christ himself incarnate, whose body and whose blood I eat and drink? Am I continually receiving fresh increase of strength? Where do I gather my might? My help cometh from heaven*s hills: without Jesus I can do nothing. As a branch cannot bring forth fruit except it abide in the vine, no more can I, except I abide in Him. What Jonah learned in the great deep, let me learn this morning in my closet: *Salvation is of the Lord.*

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