How's Your Attitude?

Hello! If you’re reading this article this morning, afternoon, evening…whenever, I want to welcome you to the gauntlet, to the cage, to the ring, to the battle arena. I say this because that’s exactly what we’re going to be doing today—FIGHTING! Sound weird? It is.

Anytime we take an inward look, anytime we make the decision to take an honest look at ourselves, choosing to take a break from pointing our finger at others, choosing to take a break from planning out everyone else’s life, we engage in a war that leaves many casualties…in fact, most refuse to see it through. The majority walk away. The majority wave a white flag, not in surrender to God’s will, but in surrender to complacency. Do you still want to continue?

This week we’ve been discussing 4 different aspects of our character, 4 areas of our lives that we need to demolish and rebuild…renovate if you will. If you’d like to catch up, it all started here.

Today, we’ll be looking at our attitudes, your attitude, my attitude. If people can identify your PRIORITIES simply by watching what you DO, then people can get an idea of who you are by how you act (ATTITUDE).

Who are you?

Are you the angry, short-tempered husband, wife, father, mother, friend, or neighbor who comes home from work with little to no patience and takes it out on everyone and everything? Are you man, woman, or child who is always complaining about how things are; the person carrying bitterness over your current circumstances OR possibly still hung up on PAST circumstances and events? Are you tired? Are you sarcastic? Is gratitude something you see in others, but lack yourself? Is everyone else making your life miserable?

What’s up? Who are you?

If ANY of these questions rings a bell, don’t worry and don’t stress, you don’t have to live like this. You don’t have to remain stuck in your nastiness and yes, that’s EXACTLY what it is…nastiness. And don’t think this is me pointing my finger, I’m right there, right here alongside you. My attitude absolutely SUCKS sometimes! BUT, I don’t stay there. Here’s why…

Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort.
Ephesians 4:31 GNT

The Bible makes it VERY clear that I am NOT to remain in the nastiness of my attitude. It says I am to GET RID of all _________ (insert your crap in that blank). GET RID of it! That means LET IT GO! Think about it. Think about who you are in your anger. Think about what you say when you’re tired and ‘easily annoyed.’ Think about the relationships you’ve destroyed because you’ve held on so tightly to the hate in your heart. Think about it.

God did just stop with that verse. If it wasn’t enough to do it simply because God said so, he gives ANOTHER reason.

Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ.
Ephesians 4:32 GNT

We are to be consumed with kindness and forgiveness because GOD HAS FORGIVEN US THROUGH CHRIST! Wait, ‘because’ is not the right word…the verse uses the word AS…we are to forgive others AS God has forgiven us. We are to show kindness to others AS God has forgiven us. That word AS means we are to model our ATTITUDES after God’s attitude toward us…love, grace, mercy, and total, complete forgiveness.

So, I ask you today, how’s your attitude? What does your attitude tell others about who God is?