Better Attitudes - A Deeper Dive
Scripture: Philippians 4:8
message recap
This week, we conclude our sermon series, “Better.” Over the last three weeks, we’ve looked at how improving certain aspects of our life can help the Fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control - flourish, bringing us closer to Christ and one another. We’ve talked about better managing our priorities, making better decisions, and having a better attitude through humility.
We’re concluding our series by returning to the theme of better attitudes and discussing having a positive attitude. It makes sense to end our series about being better with a message on positive thinking. If we manage our priorities, make better decisions, and live humbly, having a positive attitude is much easier.
There is no shortage of self-help books, studies, and advice dedicated to having a positive attitude. In 1952, author and minister Norman Vincent Peale published perhaps the most well-known self-help book - at least by name - The Power of Positive Thinking. It was on the New York Times bestsellers list for 186 weeks, 48 of which were spent in the No. 1 non-fiction spot. While there was mixed response to the book from the psychiatric and religious communities, it was very popular and proves that positive thinking was, and continues to be, a subject of interest.
And in today’s world, who isn’t looking for ways to be more positive? We live in a culture of increasingly negative messages and attitudes. Some days, finding something positive in newspapers or our online news feeds is difficult. Then there are the stories that begin positively but turn negative because of some evil act.
It is no wonder that studies continue to show that the number of people, especially young people, suffering from depression and anxiety continues to increase. Unfortunately, an election year in a highly polarized political environment won’t help matters!
There are two kinds of people in this world - maybe three - when it comes to positive attitudes: optimists, pessimists, and some who call themselves realists. Two characters in Winnie the Pooh exemplify the extreme between optimists and pessimists. First, you have the greatest role model for the optimist in Tigger. He is fun-loving, high-spirited, and sees everything in a positive light. At the other end of the continuum, there is Eeyore. Poor Eeyore who walks around with a dark cloud hanging over him. He is a striking contrast to most other Pooh characters, especially Tigger. While they’re all happy and curious, Eeyore seems perpetually glum. In fact, if you look at a map of The Hundred Acre Wood, you’ll find that Eeyore lives in his “gloomy place that is rather boggy and sad.”
We all know optimists and pessimists. And we know people who consider themselves realists - those who try to see the world in a balanced view. Not too high and not too low. Where do you fall? Is your glass half-full or half-empty?
We’re all prone to times of pessimism. When surrounded by a constant barrage of negative news, you sometimes can’t help but see the glass as half empty. When the worst-case scenario becomes an expectation, we set ourselves up for failure. If negative thoughts constantly fill your mind, your behavior will be negative. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy - if you believe you’ll fail, you probably will. Over time, negative thinking and pessimism prevent us from trying, ultimately robbing us of the opportunity to succeed. If we constantly look at the glass as being half empty, then we’ll never appreciate that it is, in fact, half full.
The Apostle Paul talks about positive thinking in this week’s scripture. He also talks about anxious thoughts in the preceding verses. Negative thoughts can be sneaky. Maybe we’re making a really good decision, but anxiety sets in. Paul writes:
“6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Anxious thoughts are negative thoughts. Anxiety causes us to be restless, worried, and obsessed. If we’re having anxious thoughts they need to be replaced with calm thoughts.
“God will never leave me or forsake me” is a calming thought.
“If God is for me, who can be against me?” This is a positive thought.
“Be still and wait upon the Lord” is the positive replacement for our anxious thoughts.
Sometimes, we might not be aware our thoughts have turned negative and destructive. In Psalm 139, David asks God to tell him if his thoughts were negative:
“23Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.”
This might be a prayer we can all benefit from when we’re trying to clear away our negative thoughts and anxiety.
Positive thinking doesn’t happen automatically. Like the other topics we’ve covered in this sermon series, we must choose positive thinking. It is an active trait, not a passive one. Having a positive mindset allows us to see God’s will. Positive thoughts turn into positive insight, which turns into positive action.
Long before we had self-help books, Paul understood the power of positive thinking. In this week’s scripture passage, he reminds the Philippians, “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.” If we followed Paul’s instructions earnestly, we could counter all negative thoughts. Everything we can think of that is positive will fit into one of these categories.
Let’s also remember, though, that we’re human and imperfect. Despite our best efforts, there will be times when negative thoughts slip through. It could be regret from the past or an angry thought toward a person in the heat of the moment. These negative thoughts can come out of nowhere and distract us from our real focus. We might not be able to keep them from entering our minds, but we can keep them from renting space in our heads. When we decide we won’t entertain the negative thought, we turn it over to Christ.
Sometimes, we just need a gentle reminder to get our attitudes right. We receive reminders from all kinds of sources. It can come from scripture or the Holy Spirit speaking to us. We can see a positive or inspirational message or quote, and we’re reminded. Sometimes, it can be the lyrics of a song. And sometimes, we receive reminders from a brother or sister who exudes a positive attitude.
Since the beginning of the year, we’ve tied all our messages to the Fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Like everything else we’ve discussed, positivity ties closely to the Fruit of the Spirit.
When we have a positive attitude, we draw people to us. We can love and be loved because our minds aren’t cluttered with negative thoughts.
A positive attitude allows us to experience joy in every aspect of our lives. We see what’s good and lovely in the world and pay less attention to the ugly and the negative.
We find greater peace when we remove anxious thoughts from our minds and turn to Jesus when we need a calming presence.
Our patience with the world and others is strained when we focus on the negative. A positive attitude opens us up to compassion for others who might be struggling.
Negativity breeds conflict. When we only see the downside, we are less kind and less likely to offer positive encouragement. A positive attitude fosters kindness, goodness, and gentleness.
Finally, our faithfulness in God grows when we remain optimistic about what we cannot see. The pessimist will always point to what is seen as evidence that all is lost. The optimist sees what is good around them, even if obscured, and what is yet to come.
Lent
This week, we entered the season of Lent. For the next 40 days, excluding Sundays, we’re called upon to pray, repent, and reflect on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Lent is often seen as a time of giving things up - indulgences that take our focus away from Christ. Lent is also an opportunity to take on new spiritual disciplines or return to disciplines we’ve neglected for too long.
Priorities, decisions, humility, and positivity all play a part in our journey through Lent. This is when the Fruit of the Spirit can flourish as we grow closer to Christ and one another.