They say attitudes can stink or smell like a rose. And it has been said that attitude determines your altitude - that is to say how high or low you might feel or behave is in direct correlation to your attitude.
Wikipedia states, "Attitude is also measurable and changeable as well as influencing the person's emotion and behavior."
So having a Christ like attitude is very important in our relationships with others in the body of Christ because our attitudes matter. How many of us want to be around someone who grumbles and moans about every difficulty, ache and pain? Who wants to be near someone who crosses their arms in a defensive manner while giving off an attitude that smells like a skunk?
Most often an attitude is formed by our quick evaluations and judgments of people, places, things or events. Too often we draw a hasty conclusion without all the facts or misunderstanding the information presented. Attitudes can be a barrier to learning and understanding especially when we are confronted with the truth in God's word.
Philippians 2:5 reads in the New Living Translation, "You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had." The word for attitude (some versions use mindset) is very interesting. The Greek word phronéō means to have understanding or to think. It's meaning is derived from phrḗn, which is "the midriff or diaphragm; the parts around the heart" (Bible Hub by Biblos).
In other words, when God points out a bad attitude, He's dealing with our hearts in those areas where we have formed wrong judgments and faulty conclusions about people or experiences which may not be true.
For me a bad attitude means a sour disposition. I can become embittered and frustrated. All the while I'll put on the best face but underneath I'm simmering with bitterness and rage. I certainly don't have the mind of Christ in that moment. Not having His mind makes the difference in how I respond or behave.
Beloved, when you struggle with a bad attitude be honest with God about it. Don't dismiss it or shove it down in your heart but rather take a moment to say, "God, I got a bad attitude. Please help me, I can't change it without your help." God is not going to shame us in our ugliness but wants to address the root issue behind some of these deeply entrenched attitudes. After all, He is conforming us to His image and to His mind.
It's time to put on His attitude which means blessing others who may have mistreated or misunderstood us. And with His attitude, we'll smell better, too!
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