An Attitude Adjustment

…and you gave me a new song, a song of praise to you. Many will see this, and they will honor and trust you, the Lord God.

Psalm 40:3 (CEV)

Stubborn and hot tempered, Betty Olsen just couldn’t seem to get it right. She was always angry, and it often boiled over. Where did all her anger come from? She was sent far away to another country for school because her parents were missionaries. Then her mom died. Later, Betty resented that her dad remarried.

Though Betty wanted to serve God, and even be a missionary, she couldn’t seem to get over her anger. But then, a pastor started to counsel her. Slowly, Betty gave God total control of her life and God helped her to stop being angry. She changed her tune and had an attitude adjustment. God has the power to change willing hearts!

Betty was sent to work at a Vietnamese hospital in 1964. When Betty and other missionaries were captured and placed in terrible conditions, Betty stayed strong and helped others. When the guards threatened to shoot them, Betty stubbornly told them only God would decide when they die. Confused, they lowered their guns.

Sadly, she died while in captivity. Still, the other missionaries remembered her kindness to everyone. That’s the kind of change only God can make in someone’s life!

SPIRITUAL FITNESS TRAINING

Go on a spy mission: Observe the people in your life. Make special note of one person who has a positive attitude. Watch how this good attitude affects others. Jot down a few notes in a journal or on some paper about what you learned from their good attitude. Then pray for God to help you have an attitude adjustment where needed, too!

PRAY

God, thank you for changing people’s attitudes, including mine.

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help you expand Scriptural knowledge and put on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Tap to read the passages today.

Psalm 103:10

Isaiah 43:25

Matthew 16:25–26

John 12:24–25