Choose to Change... your AttitudeRomans 12:1-2 (NIV) "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. {2} Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Joshua 24:15 (NIV) "But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, ... But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Have you heard stories that include this scenario? Doctor: "I am sorry, but the cancer has spread beyond what we can treat effectively. " Patient: "How long do I have?" Doctor: "Well, attitude is everything."
Can you imagine that? With all of the technological advances, new medications, and varied treatments it still comes down to attitudes.
William James said, "Perhaps the greatest discovery of this century is that if you can change your attitude, you can change your life."
That is the basis of Christianity. Our life can be changed. Paul said, "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature..."
There has been a great change each one who has placed their faith in Christ. The change occurs the moment we trust in Jesus Christ.
1 John 3:14 (NIV) "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death."
That change is completed the moment we trust Christ. There is also a permanent change that awaits every believer. 1 Corinthians 15:50-52 (NIV) "I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. {51} Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- {52} in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed."
This speaks of the change our old bodies for new bodies. This is a future event and will be our glorification. Where we live right now is called sanctification. It is the progressive growth of each believer as they become more like Christ.
It begins when we are saved and continues until we die or are raptured. Romans 8:29 (NIV) "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." How are we conformed to His image? By the working of all things.
We are not robots ... God has given us a free will to choose to love and serve Him. It is our choice to cooperate with God in His process of sanctification. The potter applies pressure; the clay must be yielded in order to be molded into a vessel fit for the master's use.
The determining factor is attitude. Attitude is our mental and emotional responses to the circumstances of life. When we can't change our circumstances, We can change our attitudes.
Our attitudes are chosen.
We can choose to look at any situation positively or negatively.
Illustration of the two farmers. One was a pessimist and the other was an optimist. When the sun was shining, the optimist would say, "Wonderful sunshine," but the pessimist would respond, "Yeah, but I'm afraid it's going to scorch the crops." When it rained, the optimist would say, "Fine rain," but the pessimist would respond, "Yeah, but I'm afraid we're going to have a flood." One day the optimist said to the pessimist, "Have you seen my new bird dog? He's the best money can buy." The pessimist said, "You mean that little mutt I saw penned up behind your house? He don't look like much to me." The optimist said, "Well, how about going hunting with me tomorrow?" The pessimist agreed. They went and shot some ducks. The ducks landed in the pond. The optimist ordered his dog to go get the ducks. The dog obediently responded, but instead of swimming in the water, the dog walked on top of the water, retrieved the ducks, and then walked back on top of the water. The optimist now turned confidently to his pessimist friend, hoping that this would have impressed him. The determined pessimist replied, "Hmmmm... can't swim, can he?"'
Some people are confirmed pessimists! They make a deliberate decision to have a negative mental and emotional response to every circumstance. Others can look at the same circumstances and choose a positive outlook.
Paul is a good example of one who chose to have a positive attitude, regardless of his circumstances. Paul was in prison awaiting his possible execution when he wrote, "Rejoice in the Lord, always." Paul was able to say, "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am" (Phil. 4:11).
Everyone of us makes a choice when it comes to our attitude. We can choose to live God's principles and enjoy His blessings. OR we can choose not to do so and we will not have the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.
Our attitudes are influenced by input. To a large extent, our attitudes are shaped by external influences: what we read, what we see, who we listen to, what we think about.
That is why Paul wrote: Philippians 4:8 (NIV) "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- -think about such things."
Attitudes are not only influenced by what we read, see, hear, and think about, but also by our friends. The Book of Proverbs is full of warnings about avoiding certain types of people. David, also warns us to avoid relationships with the ungodly: Psalms 1:1-2 (NIV) "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. {2} But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Our attitudes affect our relationships. Our relationships could stand improvement. Relationships with: our spouses, our children, our friends, Our work associates, fellow church members.
The Bible teaches that a wrong attitude is the major source of relationship conflicts. James 4:1 (NIV) What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? The major source of conflicts is a selfish attitude. Whenever two or more people get together who are determined to get their way, you are going to have conflict. Whether it is in the home, at work, in the church. The solution to such conflict is again, found in our attitude.
Philippians 2:4-7 (NIV) "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. {5} Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: {6} Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, {7} but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."
Our attitudes are both the cause and the result of right behavior. Right thinking produces right behavior. Proverbs 23:7 (KJV) "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:"
We live in a feeling-oriented society: "If it feels good, do it" A husband or wife seeks a divorce because he or she "doesn't feel anything any longer." People quit their jobs because they "don't feel fulfilled." Christians quit going to church because they "don't feel the Spirit" in the services.
Our attitude determines our eternal destiny. The definition of attitude - "our mental or emotional response to the circumstances of life."
There is one common circumstance we all encounter: Sin is our failure to please God. And the Bible says all of us are guilty of it. What is our attitude toward that sin in our life?
Our attitude will affect where we spend eternity. Some face that reality with an attitude of unbelief "There is no God, and there is no such thing as sin." Some face sin with an attitude of indifference "So what?" Others face that reality with an attitude of pride - "I may not be perfect, but I'm better than most people." There is only one attitude that pleases God: an attitude of repentance.
That means agreeing with God! You have failed, and turning to Him for forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 (KJV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.