With all the chaos and uncertainty surrounding the world right now, people are finding themselves spending more time at home with their families. Families are wonderful. Yet, there is something about families that is unique. They have an uncanny ability to drive each other up the walls.
Family has the irritating ability to bring out attitudes that we didn’t know we possessed, and today, we’re going to look at three attributes of our attitudes, and then a few attitudes we should have.
1. Your attitude affects those around you.
Just like that sulky sibling has a way of ruining your day, your attitude affects those you come in contact with. Proverbs 27:15 says that an argumentative attitude, is like a continual dripping on a rainy day. Something that affects the entire house. But it works both ways, Proverbs 17:22 says that a merry heart does good like a medicine! Bad attitudes drag on the people around you, but good attitudes can lift the spirits around you.
2. Your attitude is a reflection of your heart.
Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:” If you’re thinking selfish thoughts, that’s going to come out in your attitude, because as you think in your heart, that’s how you’re going to be. Which is why we need to strive to obey Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” If we’re thinking in our heart about these things, it’s going to show in our attitudes.
One of my favorite moments in the movie Facing the Giants, is when Coach Taylor is giving his football team a talk, and he says . . .
“Your attitude, is the aroma of your heart. If your attitude stinks, it means your heart’s not right.”
That is SO true. If you find your attitude is a constant drain on those around you, maybe it’s time to do some serious praying and ask God to point out what areas of your life need work. God wants us to be
3. You can control your attitude.
Yes, you read that right. You CAN control your attitude. So much of our life, is out of our control. The weather. Circumstances in life such as our age, our family, our birth-order, our race, and our height. Sickness. Death. SO much is out of our control. At work, the boss is in control. At school, the teachers. At sporting events, the refs make the calls. And so on. But your attitude is one thing that no one but you has the control over.
No one can make you have a good or a bad day, because no one controls your attitude. That’s your choice. Proverbs 25:28 says, “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” Basically, if you don’t control your attitudes, you’re like a city with no defense and any enemy who wants can walk in. On the other hand, if you control your spirit, Proverbs 16:32 says, “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” Controlling your attitude is better than being able to take a city!
But, as point two says, our attitude is a reflection of our heart. If you want to control your attitude, you’re going to have to control what your heart thinks on. You can’t expect to be able to harbor sin in your heart, and have a good attitude at the same time.
So, we’re supposed to control our attitudes, which starts with fixing out heart, but perhaps you’ve dealt with all the known sin in your life, an you’re just trying to control your attitude. What kinds of attitudes should you be striving after? Here are just a few.
1. An attitude of Thankfulness.
1 Thess. 5:18 says, “In EVERYTHING give thanks, for this is the will of God, in Christ Jesus, concerning you.” Yes. God’s will for your life is to give thanks.
2. An attitude of diligence
Colossians 3:23 “And whatsoever ye do, do it HEARTILY, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” Notice, it says heartily, NOT hardly. Heartily means with great heart. Romans 12:11 puts it as “Fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.”
3. An attitude of love.
1 Corinthians 13 has a LOT to say about what a loving Christian should look like, and John 13:35 says, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
4. An attitude of humility.
Philippians 2:3 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
5. An attitude of meekness.
Ephesians 4:1-2 “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and MEEKNESS, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;”
6. An attitude of boldness.
Hebrews 13:6 “So that we may BOLDLY say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
7. An attitude of Trust and confidence in God.
Proverbs 3:5 “TRUST in the LORD with all thine heart And lean not unto thine own understanding.”
Psalm 56:11 “In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.”
John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”
And these are juts a few. So, whether you’re stuck in your home, or going out and working in these troubled times, take a moment to consider your attitudes. Are they pleasing to God? Are they hurting those around you? Is there anything in your attitude that you could change to help those around you see Christ?
