Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV) You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
…to be made new in the attitude of your minds…
The things you spend time thinking about will set the foundation for the words that come out of your mouth, and often, for the actions and activities you pursue each day.
Psalm 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 42:11 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Proverbs 16:23-24 A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Jeremiah 17:10 I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.
Luke 10:27 …Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind…
Romans 8:5-6 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. …the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace…
Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:22, 25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. … Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.
1 Timothy 6:11 …pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
Although I fully understand the short attention span of today’s modern society, and although I fully acknowledge that I most likely lost the majority of my readership on about the 4th or 5th scripture passage noted above; nevertheless, my hope for those of you who kept reading will be one of encouragement. We are inundated with negativity from all sides—socially, politically, educationally, and even medically. And the risk for those who strive to maintain some sense of positivity in today’s world setting is to be labeled as some type of Pollyanna (heroine of the 1913 novel by Eleanor Porter). It isn’t that we as Christians are oblivious to the doom and gloom around us; but we are definitely called to check our attitudes for that becomes the framework for our words, which in turn becomes the framework for the actions and activities we pursue.
What are the things that are keeping you from renewing your attitude? Too much social media? Too much frustration with current politics? The state of our nation’s economy, education, world relations? Medical issues? Those may indeed be real issues, but I cannot find scriptures of instruction for Christians to concentrate and dwell on those things. Whatever is restricting your attitude today, I pray that you will find peace in Christ.
Gracious Heavenly Father,
You know the things that frustrate and overwhelm our minds. Forgive our anxious thoughts. Guide our focus back toward you in all that we think, in all that we say, and in all that we do. Give us a new attitude for you.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The devotional A New Attitude appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com
email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
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