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ATTITUDE TOWARDS GOD

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"Attitude" means "an internal position or feeling with regard to something else." (Merriam Webster dictionary). Synonyms are: "disposition, feeling, mood, opinion, sentiment, temper, tone, perspective, frame of mind, outlook, view, or morale." Attitude is a feeling, belief, or opinion of approval or disapproval towards something. The three components of the attitude are cognitive (belief, convictions and thought), affective (feelings and evolutions) and behavioral (ways of acting/reacting).
In order to understand the importance of our attitude, let me quote John Maxwell from his book Your Road Map for Success:  “ when our attitudes outdistance our abilities even the impossible becomes possible.” “Your attitude determines your altitude.” Your attitude is your choice and so you are responsible for your attitude.

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Photo Credit: Aaron Burden

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SPEAK ABOUT ATTITUDE?

"Attitude" means "an internal position or feeling with regard to something else." (Merriam-Webster dictionary). Synonyms are: "disposition, feeling, mood, opinion, sentiment, temper, tone, perspective, frame of mind, outlook, view, or morale." Attitude is a feeling, belief, or opinion of approval or disapproval towards something. The three components of attitude are cognitive (beliefs, convictions, and thoughts), affective (feelings and evaluations), and behavioral (ways of acting/reacting).

In order to understand the importance of our attitude, let me quote John Maxwell from his book Your Road Map for Success: “When our attitudes outdistance our abilities, even the impossible becomes possible.” “Your attitude determines your altitude.” Your attitude is your choice, and so you are responsible for your attitude.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SPEAK ABOUT ATTITUDE?

Philippians 2:5: Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus (NIV). Ephesians 4:22-24: 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 (NIV).

Thus, the Christian’s attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus, and also it should be according to the new self that we received from Christ.

WHAT SHOULD BE OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD GOD?

ATTITUDE OF FAITH VS. UNBELIEF (Hebrews 11:1,6)

Anyone who approaches God should believe in the existence of God. None can please God without faith. Faith is our complete trust or confidence in someone or something, or it is a strong belief in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than proof (Oxford Dictionary). According to Hebrews 11:1-2, faith is the foundation of a positive attitude towards the future, and faith tests the unseen things by acting as though they were present and visible. Our actions and speech should be guided by faith. Often, faith stands against common human thinking, possibilities, opinion, or perception (Numbers 14:8–9). Further, unbelief may lead us to rebel against God and miss our promises from God (Numbers 14:11,23).

ATTITUDE OF TURNING BACK TO GOD VS. REBELLION

Sin separates us from God. And God does not like anyone who claims that they are without any sin (1 John 1:8). When we turn away from God without dealing with our sin in relation to God, God laments over us (Isaiah 1:2–4). However, anyone who turns away from their sin and turns back to God is a pleasing event before God. God will accept such a person in His mercy, compassion, and love (Jonah 3:10). Anyone who approaches God should have an attitude of repentance rather than self-justification or self-righteousness. God will lift us up when we humble and purify ourselves (James 4:6–10).

ATTITUDE OF RELATIONSHIP VS. HYPOCRISY

God likes our relationship with Him rather than ritualism, spiritual image-building, or hypocrisy. The Greek word for hypocrisy basically means play-actor, role-player, or pretender. We become hypocrites when we fast, pray, and do any spiritual activity in order to gain human recognition or acceptance (Matthew 6:5,16; 23:5) rather than to build up our relationship with God. We also become hypocrites when we make a clean spiritual image outside but keep all unclean things/sins within us secretly (Matthew 23:27–28). God looks at our hearts. God wants us to remain in Him through maintaining our loving relationship with Him by obeying all His commandments (John 15:14). We need an attitude of relationship with God when we do spiritual things. In other words, all our spiritual activities should come from an attitude of relationship with God.

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