Devotionals

Attitude

Introduction

Have you ever stopped to think about how your attitude can affect those around you? This happens for the better or the worse, and a lot of times we need to pause and give ourselves an attitude check. Are we following God's word through our thoughts and the way we see others? Just because others can't see our inner thoughts and attitude doesn't mean it doesn't matter. In fact, it matters even more so because it's between you and God. Read on to see why our attitude is so important and how we can use it to be better examples of God's love to those around us.

Attitude is important because our thoughts becomes actions, our actions become habits, our habits develop our character, and our character develops our future. While this sounds like a lot, it's very simple. It all starts with our attitude, our way of thinking. How we think may not be able to change a situation but it may control the effects of the it. Our attitude may be the only thing we can control, but sometimes that's a lot. Let's take a look at Romans 5:5-8.

"And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Now what does this have to do with our attitudes? When we remember what Jesus did for us so that we could be made righteous and have a relationship with God, it's hard to have a negative attitude. In other words, focusing our eyes on God and what's really important is a good way to stay on top of our attitude. It's easy to get caught up in petty stuff and to be jealous or mad at someone. That's when we ask God to give us strength to focus on what we do have instead of what we don't have. Counting your blessings can quickly remind you of how lucky you are to be alive.

While we may not think our attitude has a big effect on those around us, it does. Ever been around someone who complains about this and that? They tend to have a negative impact on the situation and make everyone tense from their whining. This is why we should try our best to have a positive attitude, especially when we're around other people. Philippians 2:3-7 gives us some good advice on how to have a good attitude.

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."

While it can be hard to have a good attitude, we should try our best despite the circumstances. Don't let your attitude control you. This is easy to say but hard to follow. Still, pay attention to your thoughts; don't let them slip unnoticed. When you have a thought that isn't quite so encouraging, take a moment to remind yourself of the bigger picture: to serve God to the best of your abilities no matter where you are or what you're doing. Remember, it all starts with your attitude.

Lastly, I'd like to remind you that the words we don't say are just as important as the words we do say. Our thoughts can say a lot about who we really are, and I think that we should make it a priority to change our attitudes for the better. Philippians 4:8 says this: "Finally, brothers and sisters, 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."

I pray that you would find encouragement in this verse to have a positive attitude. If you have any questions or need to talk, please feel free to message me. I'd be happy to help. I hope you have an amazing day!