The phone company made me mad.
At least, I thoughtit was their fault. I couldn’t get them to understand that their customer service was terrible. They continually overcharged me and disconnected my boys’ phones even though I hadn’t asked them to do it. I had to call them repeatedly for months and had a terrible time getting my account straightened out.
I tried to stay patient, but I finally reached the end of my rope, and the poor customer service representative got the brunt of my attitude. I didn’t mistreat her, but I wasn’t nice, either, when I said, “What’s the matter with you guys? You’re a Fortune 500 company, and you can’t even get your billing right.”
I couldn’t believe how frustrated that company had made me. Once I calmed down, I could see the situation more clearly. I realized the lady on the phone wasn’t responsible for my bad attitude. Iwas. I didn’t think they were doing their jobs very well, and I reacted to it poorly.
There’s an old saying that says, “Attitude is everything!” If by “attitude,” we’re talking about reflecting the mind of Christ toward ourselves and toward others, then I agree.
Attitude is a mindset, and it’s a choice. It’s all about choosing to filter our experiences through the pages of Scripture. The biblical expression of a good attitude comes down to a deeply-abiding faith that empowers us to express God’s character and love.
Paul tells us in Philippians 2:14-15: “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (ESV).
A positive attitude brings glory to God.
I recently had a great conversation with author Deborah Pegues about how positive thinking is biblical thinking.
If you could use some practical ideas for strengthening your attitude in Christ, join us for our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Choosing the Right Attitude.” Deborah Pegues is our guest, and she explains how making positive choices will help you develop a stronger, more resilient attitude.
Listen on your local radio station, online, oniTunes, via Podcast, on our free phone app, or watch the full program on our YouTubechannel.
And if you’d really like to dig into the topic, I recommend Deborah’s book, Choose Your Attitude, Change Your Life … in 30 Days. It’s available from Focus on the Family for a gift of any amount. Visit our websiteor give us a call at 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459) for more information. It’s full of straight-forward and helpful advice to help you have a biblical, positive perspective no matter what your circumstances.
And thank you for your gift. Monthly donations sustain us through the summer months when things get financially tight. If you’re not in a spot to give monthly, a one-time donation is very much appreciated.
Deborah Pegues is a certified behavioral consultant, a Bible teacher, a speaker, and has written 20 books.
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