Nehemiah was living in Shushan when one of his Jewish friends arrived from Judah with the news, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.” Neh 1:3
Nehemiah could have stomped, snorted, and asked, “What are they doing back home? Why doesn’t someone get off their backside and build? What’s wrong with the government back home?”
Yes, Nehemiah could have had a bad attitude about the broken wall in Jerusalem.
His attitude could have ignored the problem; “Who cares!” or “What do you want me to do about it? I’m here in Shushan…not in Jerusalem!”
Yes, Nehemiah could have had a bad attitude about the broken wall in Jerusalem but he didn’t.
Instead of complaining or being sarcastic and sour, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. Neh 1:4
That sounds totally different from my attitude.
When I hear that the congress does something that I don’t like, I gripe and yell at the TV.
An election doesn’t go my way, I complain.
A business meeting doesn’t bring the change I’m pushing for, I complain.
The difference between complaining and not complaining is me!
Just like the difference between me forgiving someone and not forgiving is also in me!
The ability to say, “I hate you” or “I love you” is in me.
I hold the key to a better attitude when I make better choices within myself.
Now don’t get idea that I’m a self-help-yourself new-age promoter.
It is not in me to do the better-attitude thing; I need help.
My help comes from the LORD. Ps 121:2
This is why I believe that fasting and praying are good for the attitude.