Realigning Our Attitude

How could it be that two people raised in the same home and who are close to the same age grow up with completely different perspectives and attitudes about life? In a very real way, our attitude is independent of our surroundings and situations. Then how are our attitudes shaped? We need to understand that what is even more important than our environment or upbringing is our attitude, and with God’s help, we can control our mindset.

It is true that there are some people who look fantastic from the outside and seem to be lacking nothing. They have a nice home, a great job and a wonderful spouse. And yet somehow, their attitude is depressed, bitter and ungrateful. How do we explain this?

Our attitude is determined by our own choice. By the grace of God, we can choose light over darkness.

We are living in a world where there is lots of oppression, and we often face circumstances that are very trying. But bigger than our circumstances, trials and the winds of oppression that come at us is the power of our attitude and the ability we have to decide how we are going to deal with things.

I am sure you are like me; you have met people in your life who do not have much based on the world’s standards. They do not have a great job. They might not be beautiful on the outside, but somehow, they seem to be generally happy . They seem to be thankful for what they have. On the other hand, we know some people who appear to have a lot more, but they are cynical, critical and miserable.

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I have known a certain man for many years. He grew up in a very difficult situation. He does not have much money. He has some health challenges. But every time I ask him how he is, he always has the same answer: “Better than I deserve.” Whenever I hear him say that, I am blessed because it really puts things in perspective. It is an expression of the way you and I should feel, because the truth is, if the Lord rewarded us according to our deeds, all of us today would be in a very grim place.

We have so many things we can appreciate, so many things we can be thankful for, so many things that can bring us joy. If we will focus on what we do have rather than on what we do not have, we will see that the cup is half-full, not half-empty.

Psalm 116:12 (NASB 1995) says, “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?”

This is the way we must live. We must live daily in recognition of all His benefits. We should strive to walk in joy and empowerment because of the goodness of HaShem.

“I will praise the name of God with song and magnify Him with thanksgiving” (Ps. 69:30).

We should also ask Father every day for an impartation of His peace, which is to be our strength. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John 14:27).

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Peace precedes authority!

The peace and joy of the Lord that you and I can walk in is, in a very real way, separate from our circumstances and apart from the natural.

If we are still working, we can come to work with a godly attitude and a song in our heart, being a blessing. On the other hand, we can walk in, in a state of defeat—focused on the wrong things. It really is a choice. We have the ability to choose to receive from the Lord the power that we need to live in eternal thankfulness, which produces peace and joy.

Consider that everything that is in and around us has been created by God and for God. The Scripture tells us that “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen” (Rom. 11:36).

This means that His entire creation should be praising Him, and you and I have been selected and chosen for this.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle (Ps. 103:1-5).

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Curt Landry, founder of Curt Landry Ministries, and his wife, Christie, travel extensively, preaching and teaching about the Jewish roots of the Christian faith. Together, their passion is to empower families to live and leave kingdom legacies and understand their own personal heritage.