How are you doing? Really – how are you doing?  How are you physically, mentally, emotionally, financially and spiritually?  It is amazing to think that with a few small changes in our lives – God can and will do big things in and through our lives.  The area that we really need to be concerned with is the spiritual!

Life can and should be different! And it will be different, if we will take the time to grow our spiritual lives.  In Matthew 5:1-12 we discover eight attitudes that Jesus teaches that will change our lives.  These “Beatitudes” bring the blessing of happiness and the promise of reward.  As we read and attempt to live with these attitudes in our daily living – our goal is to actually experience life change!

To experience life change – we must listen, obey and grow! You can’t grow if you don’t obey and you can’t obey if you don’t listen.  So it starts with Listening – what is the Holy Spirit saying to you?  Now the question is:  What are you going to do about it?  Do what the Holy Spirit says and you are on your way to living in obedience and the natural by product is growth.

Take some time to read through Matthew 5:1-12 and focus in on verse three today! “Blessed are the poor in spirit for they will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven!”  We have something to learn and Jesus has something to teach!  What does He want to teach you about being poor in spirit???

Who am I without God?

What am I without God?

Where am I without God?

When will I figure this out?

How will it change my life?

Life is about you, but it’s not just about you! Stop for just a minute and let that thought sink in.  “Life is about you, but it’s not just about you!” Life is also about others.  The fact is – you cannot get all that God desires for you to get out of this life without others and others will not get all that God desires for them to get out of this life without you.  God created us to do life together and when we do it together and do it right, we get what He intended – growth, blessing, fulfillment and peace!

We need to become “others-minded”! We spend so much of our time thinking about ourselves, about what we want, need and deserve.  We spend very little time thinking about others and what they want, need and deserve.  Start thinking of others right now and ask yourself “What do they want, need and deserve?”

What does your spouse want, need and deserve? What do your children want, need and deserve?  What do your parents want, need and deserve?  What do your friends want, need and deserve?  Extended Family?  Neighbors?  Co-workers?  Enemies?  Strangers?  You get the idea!  Start asking and answering the question:  “What do they want, need and deserve?”

Jesus shared eight attitudes in the beginning of his “Sermon On The Mount” message. As we work our way through these attitudes found in Matthew 5:1-12, we will discover that they encourage us to be “others-minded.”  One other person that we need to consider is Jesus – what does he want, need and deserve?  Looks like we’ve got some work to do!