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? 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.
Philippians 2:1-11 NLT
Jesus gives us an attitude solution—even if we don't think we have an attitude problem! We can have encouragement from belonging to Christ, comfort from being loved, and unity from the Holy Spirit. When we have these attitudes, we have God's strength, and our hearts become tender and compassionate. Jesus humbled Himself to the point of death, following God's will, and was exalted back to His throne in heaven. Jesus is the Risen One; when we focus on Him and imitate Him, our attitudes change.
Here is a secret in life: our attitudes follow our actions. Too often we are waiting to “feel” like doing what is right. Actions are a matter of will, and once we decide to do what is right, our attitudes will follow. It can be hard to have a good attitude, especially when life beats us up. But our attitudes can change based on what we are focused on and what we choose. If we focus on Christ—His love and how he humbled Himself to death—we can have His attitude. If we choose to follow Jesus—even when it is hard—we can have His strength to overcome. His life is stronger than death. When the storms come, and they will come, turn your thoughts to Christ: His death and His love. Choose to follow Jesus no matter what is happening or how you feel.
When do you have an attitude problem? How can you focus more on Christ every day and throughout the day?
