Day 3 - PRINCIPLES OF EMPOWERMENT - The Altitude of Attitude
Philippians 2:5 (NLT) You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor.
“Cultivate” is a farming term. Because attitudes “grow” we have to pay attention to factors that affect our attitude and cultivate a better attitude.
• A good attitude will not always change our circumstances, but it will always change us. ~ John Maxwell
• What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. ~ Charles R. Swindoll
Attitude is your internal disposition.
Your attitude is your inward disposition toward other things, such as people or circumstances. As with an airplane, attitude is adjusted to keep the flight level. In a similar way, we pay attention to our “attitude-level” in life. For example, anger, resentment, disobedience to God and unresolved conflicts create imbalance in our lives. Our attitude, in terms of what others see and experience from us, arises from our inward disposition towards God and people.
According to God’s word, when you became a Christian, a part of your new creation is the development of new attitudes— your attitude should become like that of Jesus. The Bible says, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:” (Philippians 2:5).
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off the old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds.” (Ephesians 4:22 NIV)
What we see and experience from others may be a reflection of his or her attitude, but don’t make the mistake of judging people from outward appearance. I have a friend who seems to be overly serious. One day I learned that he lost two sons in a car accident. This tragedy happened a long time ago and it obviously changed his life. He does not lack joy and I know first hand that he enjoys life. Some people, like the Apostle Paul in his day, have been challenged and empowered by circumstances in unusual ways. He wrote:
1 Corinthians 13:11, When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I under- stood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1 Thessalonians 5:6, Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
Reflection Question: What “attitude-level” areas need adjustment in my life?
Key insight I gained today:
Today’s action item based on insight:
