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 Religion
Bad Attitudes By Pastor Phillip Howle web posted December 2, 2009 RELIGION – According to the dictionary, the word "attitude" means "an internal position or feeling with regard to people or circumstances." Other words often used as synonyms are: "disposition, feelings, mood, opinion, sentiment, temper, tone, perspective, frame of mind, outlook, view, or morale." I hate bad attitudes. However, I know that at times I be can blind to me own bad attitude. Usually my wife lets me know pretty quickly. You see according to God’s word, when you become a Christian, you become a new creation accompanied by a new attitude as well. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us this “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. “ Frankly an un-godly and unchristian attitude maybe a sign that you are not a new creation in Christ not and not a Christian. Attitude is that serious! I find in many people a Pop-eye like mentality who said “I yam, what I yam.” He was a simple sea-faring, pipe-smoking guy, who loved Olive Oil and spinach. So many people view their lives as impossible to change. They believe that “I can never be different, I’ll never move any closer to God, what I got is what I got, I wish things were different, but it is just who I am.” It does not have to be this way! What I want all of us to do right now is to examine our attitudes. Honestly, if the shoe fits wear it. Warning: This may not be pleasant. (List influenced by Nancy Leigh Demoss’s book, Brokenness) • People with unchristian attitudes focus on the failures of others But Christians should be overwhelmed with a sense of their own spiritual need. • People with unchristian attitudes are self-righteous. They have a critical fault-finding spirit. They look at everyone else's faults with a microscope, but their own with a telescope. . But Christians should be compassionate. . They can forgive much because they know how much they have been forgiven. • People with unchristian attitudes have an independent, self-sufficient spirit. . But Christian’s should have a dependent spirit and recognize their need for others. • People with unchristian attitudes claim rights and have a demanding spirit . But Christians should yield their rights and have a meek spirit. • Proud wit unchristian attitudes desire to be served . But Christians should be motivated to serve others. • People with unchristian attitudes have a drive to be recognized, to be appreciated. . But broken people have a sense of their own unworthiness and are thrilled that God would use them at all in any ministry. • People with unchristian attitudes feel confident in how much they know . But Christians humbled by how much they have to learn. • People with unchristian attitudes are unapproachable . But Christians should be easy to be close to • People with unchristian attitudes are defensive when criticized . But Christians receive criticism with a humble, open spirit. • People with unchristian attitudes find it difficult to share their spiritual needs with others. . But Christians should be willing to be open and transparent with others • People with unchristian attitudes have a hard time saying, "I was wrong. Will you please forgive me?" . But Christians should be quick to admit their failures and to seek forgiveness whenever necessary. • People with unchristian attitudes are concerned about the consequences of their sin . But Christians should be grieved over the hurt their sin has caused God and others • People with unchristian attitudes are blind to their real heart condition . but Christians should always walk in the light. • People with unchristian attitudes don't think they have anything to repent of . But Christians should realize that they have need of a continual heart attitude of repentance. Is your attitude unchristian? Is it ruining your life, your marriage, messing up church, then here is the best news you will ever hear: there is no one who wants you to change your life more than Jesus Christ who has died for your sins does! Look at 1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time, (7) casting all your care upon Him, because He cares about you. Peter says be humble, admit there is a problem! God will lift you up and give you new way of life! Read the words of Jesus as he says to you in Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (29) All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. (30) For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Let me close with a quote from 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.” Understand that today your attitude will determine what you see in life and how it affects you. Take the hummingbird and the vulture, both birds fly in the air constantly looking for food. But, all the vultures see is rotting meat, because that is what they look for. They thrive on that diet. But hummingbirds ignore the smelly flesh of dead animals. Instead, they look for the colorful blossoms of flowers and plants. The vultures live on what was. They live on the past. They fill themselves with what is dead and gone. But hummingbirds live on what is. They seek new life. They fill themselves with freshness and life. Each bird finds what it is looking for. We all do. So today what are you looking for in life? • Reasons to complain and gripe • Reasons to be mad • People to be jealous of • Things to get your feelings hurt over • Do you live in hate in the past like the vulture? • Or do you seek new life like the humming bird? Today you are in control of your attitude and not much else. Be a Christians and approach your world today with the attitude congruent with what you claim to be. Pastor Phillip Feel free to contact with me any questions or comments at philliphowle@hotmail.com You can also check out my devotional blog at http://www.philliphowle.com. Or you can stop by and see me on Sunday Morning at 11:00 am at Antioch Baptist Church. © Copyright 2009
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