Your Attitude . . . Your Choice

personal/ministry resource

Your Attitude . . . Your Choice
Written by JB & Shugie Collingsworth

Your attitude is your own. No one else controls it. You make choices
every day that determine your attitude. Your attitude makes an
impact on your marriage, your relationships, your work, your whole
life. If you knew what to do to establish and maintain a good
attitude toward life and especially toward your marriage, would you
do it?

God's Word has clear instructions and guidelines for us. While we
may say we believe God's Word is true, it is another thing to apply
specific instructions for life found in God's Word to our own
situation. Let's look at verses that refer to our attitude or
outlook on life.

Attitude of Humility
"Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one
another in showing honor." (Romans 12:10, HCSB)

"Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider
others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out
not [only] for his own interests, but also for the interests of
others." (Philippians 2:3-4, HCSB)

When we join our life with another, the future should not be one of
competition but of cooperation and oneness. Becoming one does not
happen by accident, but it can become reality when two people commit
to love, cherish, honor, and prefer one another. Selfishness has no
place in marriage. You must come to realize that who you can become
together is much better than who you are individually. Commit to
offer your best to your marriage and to bring out the best in your
mate and you will reap great rewards.

Attitude of Love
"Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God,
and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God" (1 John
4:7, HCSB).

"No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his
life for his friends" (John 15:13, HCSB).

"This is what I command you: that you love one another" (John 15:17,
HCSB).

Ask God each day to fill your heart with His love. You will be
amazed at your response to others when you are filled with His love.

Attitude of Kindness
"A gentle answer turns away anger" (Proverbs 15:1, HCSB).

"And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one
another, just as God also forgave you in Christ" (Ephesians 4:32,
HCSB).

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the taste and health to
the body" (Proverbs 16:24, HCSB).

When you face everyday demands and challenges, it is easy to fail to
be kind, especially to your spouse. However, when you choose an
attitude of kindness and commit to obey God's instructions, you will
bring peace to your household and God will bless you.

Attitude of Goodness
"Do everything without grumbling and arguing" (Philippians 2:14,
HCSB).

"Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who
promote peace have joy" (Proverbs 12:20, HCSB).

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control … If we live by
the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-25,
HCSB).

"So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the
proper time if we don't give up" (Galatians 6:9, HCSB).

Choose goodness – do the right thing, even when you don't feel like
it. Give grace to your spouse. Remember, "while we were still
sinners Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8, HCSB).

Attitude of Joy
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice"
Philippians 4:4, HCSB).

"Now I am coming to You, and I speak these things in the world so
that they may have My joy completed in them" (John 17:13, HCSB).

Joy is not dependent on your circumstances but on your relationship
with God. You can choose an attitude of joy. When you do you are
giving a blessing to your family and to all those around you. When
you choose joy over discontent and a bad attitude you are displaying
the life of Christ and his characteristics which are available to
every believer.

In Summary
Get up each day and choose an attitude that will benefit yourself
and also bless those closest to you. You will not regret it!

JB & Shugie Collingsworth travel around the country, coaching
churches and couples on how to build strong marriages. Their
ministry is based in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.