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Positive attitude to life

By Chidi Okoroafor
02 December 2017   |   11:08 pm
Text: Numbers 13:27-29; Numbers 13:30; Numbers 14:6-9 Key Verse: Philippians 4:8 “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” What is Positive?…

Chidi Okoroafor

Text: Numbers 13:27-29; Numbers 13:30; Numbers 14:6-9
Key Verse: Philippians 4:8 “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

What is Positive?
In the simplest sense, positive means good — or the opposite of negative. It also means to be optimistic, hopeful, cheerful, forward-looking, undoubtful and confident.

What is an Attitude?
It is one’s disposition towards life. It is one’s perception/view about life or how one interprets the things that happen to him/her in life.
Attitude influences an individual’s choice of action, and responses to challenges.

What is Positive Attitude?
It is an optimistic/positive disposition towards life. Positive attitude is maintaining an unperturbed posture during life-shattering moments and being confident that you shall not only live through them but move your life forward after them. A positive attitude helps you cope more easily with the daily affairs of life. It brings optimism into your life, and makes it easier to avoid worries and negative thinking.

Positive Attitude also has to do with your thought pattern, mentality pattern and speaking pattern. Proverbs 23:7a said, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”

Positive Attitude is a positive mindset. Mindset is an established set of attitudes held by someone.

Do you spend more time thinking in good things or in negative things? The Bible commands us in Philippians 4:8, that we think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report. These six virtues are the six characteristics of a person with a positive attitude.

A good example of “Negative Attitude” is the report of the “10 Negative Spies” and a good example of “Positive Attitude” is the report of the “2 Positive Spies”. In Numbers 13, Moses sent out 12 Spies to go “spy out the land” and see how the people lived, how strong they were, and what the land looked like in preparation to the conquest.

After forty days, the 12 Spies returned and admitted Canaan was a wonderful land, but the 10 Negative Spies expressed doubt they could conquer these strong people. Two of the Positive Spies, Caleb and Joshua, objected and said, “we are well able” to take the land. However, Israel chose to accept the report of the 10 Negative Spies and the majority prevailed.

A very important question I want to ask you is, whose report do you believe? Do you believe the Lord’s report that says in Isaiah 53:5, “And by His stripes we are healed” or do you believe the Doctor’s report saying that “you are sick”. Attitude affects our perception of things.

As a consequence of the Children of Israel decision, God said to them in Numbers 14:28 &30, “28 Say to them, “As I live,” says the Lord, “just as you have spoken in My ears, so I will do to you. 30 You will not go into the land which I swore by My hand to cause you to dwell in it, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.” Israel wandered in the wilderness another 38 years while an entire generation died.

What admonitions do we receive? What lessons do we learn from the twelve spies? There are two attitudes we see in the lives of the 12 Spies: Positive Attitude and Negative Attitude.

The outlook of the ten spies was not very bright. Their report was one of gloom. They could only see the problems instead of the possibilities, the giants instead of God and defeat instead of victory. The inspired writer called it “an evil report” (13:32). Their attitude could certainly be called negative.

On the other hand, Caleb and Joshua, were very optimistic. Their report was one of hope. They saw the possibilities instead of the problems, God instead of giants, and victory instead of defeat. God said Caleb “had a different spirit” (14:24). Yes, it was different from the ten spies because it was positive instead of negative.

Today, in the world and in the church, we still have these two groups of people. Some can see the good in people, opportunities to spread the gospel and the disposition that says “we are able.” While there are others who can only see the bad in people, the flaw in any idea and say “we are not able.”
Today’s Nugget: Attitude affects our perception of things.
Prayer: Lord, help me to develop the spirit of Positive Attitude.
Prayer line: Send text only to 09078154261.
E-mail: evangelgospel@yahoo.com
Dr. Chidi Okoroafor
General Superintendent
Assemblies of God Nigeria

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