Are you aware that planes have attitudes? You thought only your children (or your spouse) or only “young people” had “attitudes.” Perhaps they do, but airplanes have attitudes as well. The attitude of an aircraft is its position in relation to the horizon. Therefore, when an airplane has a nose-up attitude it is climbing. Likewise, a nose-down attitude indicates an airplane in a dive. It is essential for an airplane to have a right attitude if it is to safely arrive at its destination. This is why the “attitude indicator” gauge is prominently placed on the panel. A pilot is concerned with the attitude of the airplane because attitude indicates performance. Changing the airplane’s attitude will changes its performance.
That is true with more than just airplanes. More than ability or the actions of others, attitudes dictate our performances. Attitude more than aptitude determines altitude. The same is true with situations or circumstances. You cannot tailor-make the situations in life but you can tailor-make your attitudes to fit. That is the thought that Paul expressed in Philippians 4:11-12, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”
It is all about the attitude. Actions, decisions, circumstances, relationships, ministries, everything is affected by our attitudes, and we choose our attitudes! They are not chosen for us or forced upon us. Attitudes do not choose us. We choose them. What are attitudes? They are patterns of thinking which are formed over time.
The Scriptures have a lot to say about our attitudes. The wilderness wandering of the Israelites provides examples of bad attitudes and their consequences. You are encouraged to read that account in your Bibles this month. Learn from their harmful example (1 Corinthians 10:11) that negative attitudes keep us in the wilderness of our spiritual experience, but God-honoring attitudes will bring us in to Promised Land living.
The transformation of our attitudes is the key to seeing the world through the eyes of faith, because it is the key to the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. The ancient Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years because they were full of fear: fear of the giants and the walled cities in the land. They viewed their world with an improper perspective. May we be full of faith rather than full of fear, and let us view our world with the proper perspective of faith.
Consider these questions:
- Am I willing to consider what the Bible says about changing my attitude?
- Am I willing to change my attitude?
- Am I willing to focus on my attitude?
- Am I willing to prayerfully, expectantly, and urgently go after this change?
The Coffee House 
Travis,
I enjoyed your post, but wanted to offer a variant opinion. While I agree that attitude certainly does impact every element of our daily lives, it seems like I cannot do all that much to fix my attitude. Willingness is wonderful, but it seems like my sin prevents me from having a good attitude or even making positive steps to overcome my negativity. Perhaps sin was the Israelites trouble in the wilderness and the point of the story is that because of sin we cannot meet the demands of the law. Good attitude, I would suggest, isn’t a matter of willingness. Its a matter of the fruit of the Spirit, who is living within me. Love, joy, peace, patience, etc… If I can try real hard, what do I need Jesus for? I would suggest that good attitude is a product of the Holy Spirit in me. Certainly there is effort required on my part, but perhaps the effort is me following Jesus as Lord and obeying his teachings, which results in the Spirit seizing control of me, and me obeying more, etc. Heck, that would make a cool circular diagram too… Just wanted to comment and perhaps discuss. Btw, I like the diagram. Its what prompted me to click on your link.
-erik
Thanks for the comment, Erik. Change is only possible through the Spirit’s power, and YES, the Israelite’s problem in the wilderness was sin. Their sin was prominently displayed in their attitudes. We can do nothing spiritually profitable on our own, only as we abide in Christ (John 15). The Spirit enables and empowers us to change our attitudes, to learn, as did Paul, to be content regardless of the situation.
This is not a do-it-yourself post. None of mine are. It’s a trust and follow the Lord post, but remember, we must trust and follow. He doesn’t do that for us.
Oh, and I’m glad you like the diagram! Thanks for dropping by the Coffee House. Hope to see you again.
I didn’t figure it was a do it yourself post. Amen to trust and follow.