Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it.
I didn’t expect that you and I were going to have a conversation about attitude this week, but let me tell you what happened. I threw my hip out. And as I was praying through what you and I were going to cover this week, I kept coming back to the word adjusted. There are people in our lives who are challenging to be around. People who rub us the wrong way, people who are hard to love. With that in mind, we’re going to see what the Bible says this week about attitude and how God can change us from the inside out.
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Transcription:
Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it. Kicking off today’s podcast with some really wise words from Pastor Charles Swindoll. Hi, it’s Erica. Welcome to the Bible for Busy People. I didn’t expect that you and I were going to have a conversation about attitude this week, but let me tell you what happened. I threw my hip out. This happens every once in a while. I don’t know why. I have to go to the chiropractor and get my hip adjusted and within just a few days I’m fine. And as I was praying through what you and I were going to cover this week, I kept coming back to the word adjusted. And I thought about my attitude and how often it needs to be adjusted. But it’s hard, isn’t it? Because you know there are sandpaper people in your life. There are sandpaper people in my life. People who rub us the wrong way, people who are hard to love. So we’re going to see what the Bible says this week about attitude and how God can change us from the inside out. In Ezekiel, it talks about how he can remove our heart of stone and give us a heart of flesh. It’s possible when you and I stay connected to the living God.
Zig Ziegler, he was a popular author once said, your attitude, not your aptitude will determine your altitude. That one word altitude really hooked me, so I looked something up. This is really interesting from Time Magazine. Ryan Jorgenson is an aviation data analyst, and he says that one reason that planes cruise above the clouds is so that they can fly fast. The higher airplanes climb, the thinner the air gets and the more efficiently they can fly because of less resistance in the atmosphere.
It is possible with the help of the Lord Jesus, for you and I to cruise above the clouds of our circumstances. To rise above those base attitudes, the natural attitudes to the supernatural. I believe this. And I do believe that one way we do that is by studying the word of God. So join me today in Philippians Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, chapter two, beginning in verse one. Let’s see what God has to say about our attitudes.
Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate?
Oh Lord, give us tender and compassionate hearts we pray. Verse two now.
Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 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, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.Shine Brightly for Christ Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
See, you and I don’t have to adjust our attitudes on our own. This whole conversation started because I need to go to the chiropractor and have my hip adjusted. I can’t do it on my own. I have to lay on that chiropractor’s table and Dr. Mattie is going to be the one doing the adjusting. But you see, I’ve got to be the one to make the phone call and drive over there and lay on that table. I’ve got to be willing to be adjusted. That’s the first victory when it comes to adjusting your attitude. You got to be willing, and it says right here, we just read it, you and I together, that God is going to give us the desire and the power to do what pleases him. You and I just have to keep that relationship with God going strong. He is going to do the heavy lifting. Verse 14, now,
Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy.
Yes, you should rejoice and I will share your joy. The Apostle Paul on fire with his pep talk there; encouraging us in our attitudes. Did you catch that again? Just like I have to lie on that chiropractor’s table, you and I have to give up our lives as an offering to Jesus. What does that look like on a daily basis? It looks like, Lord, here’s my attitude toward this person. Would you take it and refine it until it’s gold in your hands? That’s what it looks like. It looks like being humble enough to say, God, I can’t do this on my own. My feelings are too strong in this matter, but nothing is stronger than you. And I know you’re going to help me, you and I. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. All right.ntil next time when you and I reconvene in the belly of a whale, remember, you are loved.
Thank you so much for listening to the Bible for Busy People. If you need prayer or you’re ready to go a little deeper in your faith, we’ve posted some resources for you in our show notes. We’d love for you to share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review. It helps us reach even more people with the hope of Jesus. This podcast is part of Purposely, a podcast network designed with practical podcasts to help you find and live in God’s purpose for your life.
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