Be Thankful

Yesterday, I talked about how attitude is a choice. We saw that attitude can be either good of bad (NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE). We also saw how our attitude defines what kind of person we are--- we can be defined by our "stinking thinking," or we can be defined by a positive attitude.

The first step in changing our attitudes is self-awareness, we must be able to see ourselves as "others see us." We must be aware of our attitudes---by being aware of how we react and respond to our circumstances helps us to put attitude change front and center in our lives.

I need to put this all important note in the middle of this blog---this is not self-improvement, this is not to make us a better person, no, for the child of God, whatever we do, we do it for the glory of God:

 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

This is no small philosophical matter, no, it is the heart and soul of being a follower of Christ. We don't live our lives for ourselves, we a are to deny ourselves daily, take our crosses and be crucified with Christ (Matt. 16:24). 

Now, we want to replace that complaining attitude with an attitude of thankfulness, so here we go, this is the sentence that James MacDonald gives in his book, LORD, CHANGE MY ATTITUDE  (Before It's Too Late):

SAY IT IN A SENTENCE:

Thankfulness is the attitude that perfectly displaces my sinful tendency to complain and thereby release joy and blessing into my life. 

 So, thankfulness is the attitude that replaces a complaining attitude. This is the biblical principle that is used in counseling---it is called the "put on put off" principle, it is found all through the Apostle Paul's epistles---here is just a short list of "put on put off " principles from the Biblical Counseling and Training Center:

http://www.gatewaybiblicalcounseling.org/resources/putoffputonlist.htm 

Put Off                                    Put On

Adultery	Marital fidelity
Anger	Self-control
Argumentative/Quarrelsome	Gentle Answer/Peace & Accord
Astrology	Worship of God
Bad Companions	Godly Associations
Bitterness	Tender hearted, forgiving
Blameshifting	Responsibility
Bodily harm	Glorify God in body
Burying talents	Developing abilities
Boasting (conceit)	Esteeming others
Careless Talk	Edifying Words
Carnal Entertainment	Please God
Cheating	Honesty
Covetousness	Contentment

 This week practice or (choose) to be thankful, moment by moment. Remember, thankfulness is an attitude of the heart---we must go to the Lord in prayer and ask that the Holy Spirit CHANGE us from the inside out.

Have a great day! and be thankful.