Secret #2 – Self-control – (3)

Our first “A” is for “Attitudes”

Whoever said, “The control center of your life is your attitude” was so right. Your attitude definitely determines your altitude in life – sounds like something John Mason, Mike Murdock, Dr Myles Munroe or Dr David Oyedepo would say…don't know who did.

A fellow woman - Barbara De Angelis said “No one is in control of your happiness but you; therefore, you have the power to change anything about yourself or your life that you want to change.”

Too many of us go around throwing “pity parties” – who has time to attend those? Ladies, get a hold of yourself. One way to “obtain and retain” control (I can hear one of my children say “it rhymes Mummy”)…of your life is to control what you think about yourself and even about others. We touched on this briefly when we talked about self-confidence (look through the Blog archive).

The Bible advises us: “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].” (Philippians 4:8 – Amplified Bible, emphasis mine).

Once you can control your thoughts (and you CAN), your attitude will fall in line. Once you can control our attitude, you will control yourself i.e. who you are and you won’t be easily “upset” with things that happen around you. Imagine the impact your life will make on those in your sphere of influence when they notice that you face any and every situation that comes your way with shoulders upright (knowing that God is with you) as against drooping “it’s always me” shoulders?

You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you – Brian Tracy

Esther had no “direct” control over Haman’s plan against the Jews; she didn’t start moping around wondering “why me?” She braced herself, prayed and invited the king and Haman to dinner twice just bidding her time for the right time to speak (back to “W” – words) … the rest is history!

Imagine if she had a defeatist attitude and didn’t do anything…thank God she had the right attitude - we should too so we make a lasting impact in our generation.

I found a really nice article on “Attitude” – check it out and let us know what you think: http://www.analliance.org/y4christ/message1.html