Watch Your Nose

January 11th, 2023
by Michael Osthimer

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting”

Psalm 139:23–24

Pastor and author John Maxwell wrote a little book, “The Key To Your Altitude” and he used the altimeter in an airplane as an example when he wrote, “our attitude is the key to our altitude.” The altimeter in a plane is called the “attitude meter” by pilots because they say if the nose of the plane is up the plane has a good attitude and if the nose of the plane is down the plane has a bad attitude that if goes unchanged will lead to an eventual crash landing if not worse.

So how do we go about checking our attitude each day to avoid a crash you might be thinking to yourself? Just like a good pilot does a full inspection of the plane each time before taking off you and I do well to heed the words of the apostle Paul each day and do a “walk around” as it were of our very lives to see if we are actually walking in our faith. In 1 Corinthians 11:28 we read, “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup” and verse 31 explains why, “For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.”

Theologians, psychiatrists, counselors and sociologists all tend to agree that the number one difference between success and failure in people’s lives is their attitude. It’s no wonder then that the apostle Paul would exhort all believers to have the same attitude in themselves that is found in Jesus Christ. The two adjustments Paul says we should make to tune our attitude each day are humility and servitude. Putting God first and the needs of others second are the best way to make sure our nose is up. One of my all time favorite pastors, Chuck Swindoll put it this way when he wrote, "The most significant decision I make each day is my choice of an attitude. When my attitudes are right there's no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme and no challenge too great." I’m praying you sore above the clouds today!

I LOVE YOU!