Attitudes of the Mind, Heart and Soul PT I

Perception is everything. The way I view my situation has much to do with the direction of my attitude.

 

Whether I am content or dismayed, anxious or at peace is directly connected to what I perceive as truth. Do I see myself as a hopeless victim or believe I will overcome my problem?

“…when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty too shall end, that peace and tranquility will return once more….It’s a wonder I haven’t abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and impractical. Yet I cling to them because I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart".

These are not the words of someone who had a heated argument with a spouse, was falsely accused by a friend, loss a promotion to a less qualified co-worker or suffered some other fairly common injustice that can send one into a tail spin. No, these words are excepts taken from the personal diary of Anne Frank, a 15-year-old German -Jewish teenager whose family was forced to go into hiding during the Holocaust. After being discovered, they were deported and imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp.

Because of her courageous attitude, Anne’s story has inspired and encouraged the hearts of countless thousands. Her diary has been translated into many languages and is said to be one of the most widely read books in the world.

In the midst of imprisonment, surrounded by torment, disease and death, Anne decided to have faith that something good could still happen. She made a conscious effort to focus her thoughts on the good; in spite of what her eyes saw or her ears heard.

God has given much instruction concerning our thought life. Isaiah 57:7 admonishes the wicked to forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts in order to return to the Lord. Forsake. That sounds easy, but is it? It takes practice, but it starts with purposely replacing the problem with the promise.

“Finally my brother, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things (fix your minds on them.) Phil 4:8 AMP

Our thoughts are like a steering wheel leading us to a positive or negative destination. On days when I just can’t seem to kick a bad disposition, if I examine my thoughts I quickly find the real issue—it's not the person who I thought made me angry, it's not the bill that I am not able to pay on time. The issue is I have chosen to focus more on the issue than God's faithfulness to victoriously get me through it.

Anne realized her ideals seemed absurd, yet she said, “...I cling to them....” Much more so, I must cling to the Word of God no matter how absurd it seems. It changes my perception and my attitude.

Is There Anything Too Hard for God?

Circumstances have a way of commanding our undivided attention; of being the loudest, most persistent voice--especially in the midst of difficulty—a sick loved one, a wayward child, a lost opportunity, increased responsibilities or a sudden, seemingly hopeless occurrence. It’s the infamous struggle of the what ifs.

The thoughts of what could, would, or should happen projects repeatedly, without commercial interruption, across the big screen of the mind. Sleepless nights tossing and turning into the wee hours accompany the unrestrained mind, relentless in its attempt to make everything fit into a neat, sensible package.

The apostle Paul, in Romans 8:5 calls this the mind of the flesh. “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh ….” This way of reasoning is the enemy of all that is good and profitable. It leads only to death.

In times of trouble, we have to decide early what we believe about the situation. It’s a matter of choosing which voice gets the attention; the voice of circumstances, the voice of reason, or the voice of truth. Once we have settled the issue of what we believe, that belief will dictate our responses and ultimately the outcome.

Take another look at Romans 8. Paul doesn’t just present the problem; the solution follows in verse 6, “…but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

At one hundred years old, Abraham and his ninety-year-old wife, Sarah were long past child-bearing years. Yet, God promised them a son. Can’t you just see Abraham’s head going tilt? Sarah laughed at the very thought of it.

As much as Abraham couldn’t understand how such a thing could be possible, he had learned from past mistakes not to no longer take matters into his own hand. It was decision time. He could either consider the pros and cons, along with all the possibilities and improbabilities of the circumstances, or crawl into the arms of God and trust Him to be bigger than the odds. 

To his credit, Abraham chose the latter. He chose to look away from his frail deteriorating frame and Sarah’s lifeless womb and all that he could see with his natural eye. Turning instead, his full attention to the promise, he dug his withered, aged heel in the ground, hoped against hope and believed that God was well able to do what He said.

Armed with an unwavering faith, Abraham was able to silence the voice of reason, placing all hope in God, Who gives life to the dead. His reward? Abraham not only fathered a son with Sarah, but became the father of many nations –and to all who simply believe.

All scripture is from New King James Version.