Thought for Thursday, June 20th

June 20, 2013                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Focusing Your Attitude

 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.

Philippians  4:8 (KJ)

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Philippians 4:8 (NLT)

Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious — the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.

Philippians 4:8 (The Msg.)

“Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life.”

-          John Homer Miller

Often I have heard it said that ‘the proof is in the pudding’ and that ‘it’s all in the attitude.’  And I believe more often than not – this is true.

Society has conditioned us to look for the bad, the wrong, the unjust, and the unfair: but scripture challenges us to find the good, the right, the righteous, the holy and the God part of those things around us.

All praise belongs to Him and if we focus on praise; we focus on Him and then our whole outlook on life can be changed.

We are given a peace and a soundness of heart and mind by the Spirit of God, not of confusion, fear and stress: but how often do we find ourselves in knots over situations because we focus on our weakness and limits rather than God’s provision and possibility?  How often do we see the insurmountable mountain rather than the power of the one who said if we have faith as big as a grain of mustard seed, we can speak to that mountain and it can be cast into the sea?

It’s all about the attitude.  If your attitudes focus on the lies and deceits of the enemy of your soul; you will be defeated, down and discouraged: but if you focus your attitudes on all those things referred to in the passage above; you will walk in peace, joy and victory in spite of and regardless of the circumstances surrounding you.

Prayer:

Father, to many times I find myself walking through the valley of shadows and becoming fearful and spooked because I don’t focus on You and keep my attitude attuned to gratitude and praise: forgive me and help me remember who I am in You and whom I serve and how much potential there is when my faith and your power unite.