By Creflo Dollar
A good attitude is important in everything we do, and it’s up to us to choose what kind of attitude we want to embrace. We can wake up each morning dreading what lies ahead, or we can wake up thankful for all the blessings we enjoy but sometimes take for granted.
Our mindset affects what kind of day we have, and it can either make us productive and happy, or unproductive and miserable. Deliberately maintaining a godly attitude can change our entire outlook on life and give us amazing results.
Other people’s attitudes can be contagious, so we must be conscious of what we think. Even if negativity is swirling all around us, we have the ability to deliberately reflect on positive things and reject everything else. Thoughts have power; they can either put us in a good frame of mind or put us in a bad mood.
The apostle Paul understood this, and he shared it with the church at Philippi.“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. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you…Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:8, 9, 11).
We may not be able to control the things that go on around us, but we can control how we perceive them. Paul suffered hardship and persecution, but he still chose to be content. We don’t have to let external situations dictate how we feel inside.
When we guard our hearts and refuse to allow negative thoughts to fester inside us, we control the direction of our lives. “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23, NKJV).
Sometimes we feel tempted to murmur, complain, gossip, and use the power of speech with which we’ve been blessed for negative purposes. It’s easy to be swayed if we’re not careful, but God gave us mouths and tongues to use for good, not evil. Whether we’re in school, on the job, or at home, we can control our speech. “Do all things without murmurings and disputings” (Philippians 2:14).
Putting others first is also part of maintaining a godly attitude. Most people subscribe to the world’s “Every man for himself” mentality. This kind of thinking pits people against each other, and can create animosity and mistrust.
A completely different approach is more productive. “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:3-5, NKJV).
Our attitude is something we need to check every day, and tweak if necessary. A bad attitude can open us up to strife, anger, bitterness, and emotional pain, which isn’t what God wants for us. If we occasionally struggle in this area, studying the Scriptures and asking Him for help can put us back on the right track.
Creflo Augustus Dollar Jr. is an American televangelist, pastor, and the founder of the non-denominational World Changers Church International based in College Park, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. Copyright | Creflo Dollar Ministries.
