Choose Your Attitude

Do you know a Christian who is, what I affectionately call, a Jekyll and Hyde believer? You know what I mean, don’t you? That person that you’re never quite sure who you’ll be encountering. One day he’s bright and cheery. The next day he bites your head off just because you said, “Good morning,” to him. Maybe there’s another question here: Are you like that? If you are growing in Christ likeness, and being controlled by the Holy Spirit, your ever-increasing consistency will be a testimony of your faith.

Have you ever thought about choosing your attitude? I believe you can, and so did the Psalmist. When you get cranky or moody, do what the Psalmist did, and have a good heart to heart talk with yourself …

Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God. Psalm 42.11

I haven’t run across a better quote on attitude than this one by Chuck Swindoll:

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. 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. We cannot change our past ... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude ... 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.” (https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/267482)

Amen, Brother Swindoll, Amen!

Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let those who love Your salvation say continually, “The LORD be magnified!” Psalm 40.16