Live Original Devotional Week One

Attitude Check
NO ONE IS CRAZY about sweating. It can make us uncomfortable and smelly. But at times, the best things in life include some parts that aren’t so great. Then we have to decide how to respond.

Every summer, I go to one of my very favorite places, Camp Ch-Yo-Ca. I love summers at camp! But when I am there, I know I’m going to sweat!

You might have read about camp in my book Live Original, or seen a few pics on Instagram. I go every summer. One of the things we do at camp is called an Attitude Check, which brings me back to sweating. It’s hot at camp, and there are bugs and, maybe, a snake or two. In other words, it’s not perfect—there are definitely things that make you feel uncomfortable or uneasy. But nothing in life is perfect. That’s why one of my grandma’s favorite quotes is “If you can’t change the situation, change your attitude.”

In some ways, camp is like real life. At camp and in real life there are unpleasant parts that you have to either deal with or ignore, but it’s worth the effort because, at the same time, there can also be amazing benefits. Some of those benefits for me at camp are learning more about God and His plan for my life and making lifelong friends.

So here’s how an Attitude Check works: When the counselors or directors notice the campers dragging around and looking less than excited about being there, one of them will yell, “Attitude Check!” and the campers respond with, “I feel great! Oh, I feel so great!” Then it ends with a loud “Uh!” Seriously, immediately you feel better.

In life, I know you won’t feel great every day—there’s going to be some sweating—but every day you can find something to feel great about. So the next time you feel down or don’t feel like smiling, you might need to challenge yourself to an Attitude Check. Of course, your mom might get a little worried when she hears you yelling out loud about how great you feel, but trust me, when she hears your positive message, she will probably feel great too!
What Does the Bible Say About It?
Romans 15:5–6 (NIV)

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Dig a Little Deeper
The book of Romans was written with two reasons in mind. First, Paul wanted to be sure the Christians in Rome knew that, because of God’s righteousness (or justice), salvation (or deliverance from sin and its consequences) is possible. The best way I can describe God’s righteousness is that God is right all the time—and He always does what is right. He is honest and just and worthy and blameless. We cannot be righteous on our own—we can only get righteousness from God.

Read Romans 1:16–17 (NIV) and fill in the blanks.

For I am not .................................. of the .................................. , because it is the power of God that brings .................................. to everyone who believes: first to the .................................. , then to the ................................... For in the gospel the ......................... of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by ...................................... .”

And second, Paul wanted to give some instruction on how to live a Christian life.

In Romans 15:5–6, we are told to have the same attitude of mind with each other as who?

If we are to have a good attitude anywhere near that of Jesus, we have to know what His attitude is, and the only way we can do that is by learning more about Him. Keep studying every day to find out who Jesus Christ is and how He lived. Then you will know how to be and to act in a way that honors Him.
Live It!
Part of living for Jesus is having and presenting the right attitude. Our attitude affects our approach to life. We can choose to approach each day complaining and looking for the bad, or we can approach each day looking for the good. Write our verse for the week, Romans 15:5–6, on a note card and put it up on your bathroom mirror. Say it every morning at least three times. It’s a little long, but you can do it. You’re looking in the mirror anyway! By the end of the week, this verse will be deep in your heart for you to use whenever you need it.

And go ahead and try that Attitude Check thing. God would love to hear you say, “I feel great! Oh, I feel so great!”
Ready, Set, Grow!
This week I will strive to keep a good attitude when