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Control your attitude

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude to me is more important: than facts, than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do … It will make or break a company … a church … a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day … I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you … we are in charge of our attitudes.”  

—Charles Swindoll 

 If we’ve learned anything over the last year and a half, it’s this: we are not in control. We can make plans with the best intentions in mind and see them completely wiped out by an unforeseen force. 

 You can eat right, exercise, and visit your doctor regularly and still get sick. Build the sturdiest home on the block … and still get a leaky roof. You can dream of an incredible future for your child or grandchild … and have it all come crumbling down with one rebellious choice on their part.  

 So, what can you control through all of life’s ups and downs? Your attitude. It is not about what happens to you … it is about how you choose to respond to what happens to you. You can use your attitude to live victoriously in the days to come: 

 Be real.  

Authenticity requires an attitude of honesty and humility. Be the same person in public as you are in private. It becomes increasingly difficult to hide secret parts of your life, creating havoc in all areas. Seek accountability, be willing to admit mistakes. Be yourself.

 Be happy.  

Difficult, right?! Maybe it would help to turn off the noise of our culture. Remove the negativity flooding your soul. If you are focused on what might come, you cannot enjoy the present moment. If you are angry at the world, you cannot be at peace in it. Contemplate these words of Jesus, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). 

Be aware of God.  

Jesus is with you! He is not just some far off promise for the future. You are not forgotten or abandoned. Turn your attention to Him … and your attitude will soar.  Too many Christians live in darkness, with the Light in their peripheral vision. When you are aware of His great love, gratitude for it will flow from your heart. Joy will come easily. 

 

My prayer this week—Lord, help me to choose an attitude of thankfulness for your goodness, grace, and love. No matter what is happening around me, help me focus on you and control what I can: my reaction to it. Allow this to become the great testimony of my life, every day, every week, always.