Attitude is a Choice

My cousin and I were talking about this the other day and I thought it was interesting, so here I am revisiting it and trying to put it together in a way that makes sense.

We were talking about how you can have two siblings from the same family, and one can use their upbringing as an excuse for their detrimental adult behavior while the other can use their upbringing as a springboard for healthy adult behavior. I'll give an example. Say your parents tell you untrue things about yourself the whole time you're growing up...that you're stupid...that you aren't good for anything, etc. My response is that I'm going to prove them wrong....I'm going to make total fools of them, and then I'm going to laugh at them when they end up looking all crazy(yeah, I have a little spitefulness in me...just a little!). Someone else in the same situation might believe the lies that are told to them and see no reason not to live up (or down) to them. What's the difference in the two people? If we're going with the nature vs. nurture idea, it's got to be nature because two people who are raised in the same situation can react in opposite ways.

But I don't believe that we're slaves to our natures. Just because your first instinct is to shrivel up and surrender to the lies you've been told doesn't mean that's what you HAVE to do. We give other people far too much power over our lives. Why? Why do we let people take stuff from us that isn't theirs to take? We can't control how other people treat us, but we can control how we react to it.

Some people choose misery. Some would rather walk around with a chip on their shoulder for the rest of their lives, expecting people to wrong them, shadow boxing, than brush the chip off and move on. Make no mistake about it, how you react to the trials in your life is your decision. "It's just the way I am" is a copout. If you're a Christian, it's not "just the way you are." You've been given a new life and new tools to deal with life. If you're not a Christian, you can be one (ask me). There is a wellspring of love, grace, and power available to you...no matter who you are, what you've done, or where you've been. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. In every single moment of your life, He loves you extravagantly. No matter what.

I think that one of the keys to having the courage to choose joy over misery is knowing who you are and what you're worth. This makes all the difference to me.

I am...
ROYALTY
Romans 8:16-17
16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Ephesians 1:5
In love 5he[a] predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will

WORTH SOMETHING PRECIOUS
John 3:16
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

LOVED
Zephaniah 3:17
17 The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.

Romans 8:38-39
38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Colossians 3:12-13
12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.



POWERFUL
Philippians 4:12-13
12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

II Timothy 1:7
7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.



FREE
Isaiah 61:1,3
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, [a]
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.



FORGIVEN and FREE FROM GUILT
Psalm 103:12
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Romans 8:1-2
1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.


IMPORTANT
Psalm 56:8
8 You've kept track of my every toss and turn
through the sleepless nights,
Each tear entered in your ledger,
each ache written in your book.

Matthew 10:30-31
30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.


So go ahead. Treat me poorly. Underestimate me. It won't change who I am. Nobody can change who I am. Nobody can change who YOU are. Rest in that and choose joy.