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Living Church of God - Audio Sermon Library
Attitude Is a Choice
01:09:53
Paul Shumway | Recorded November 14, 2025
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Sam. Warm greetings, brethren. What an honor and a privilege to be here with you this very special time, God's holy Sabbath day. We all have the wonderful opportunity of dealing with all kinds of people with all kinds of attitudes. Good attitudes, not so good attitudes in between. Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like telling someone you have a bad attitude? Or maybe even your attitude stinks with a capital S? Now, I know you'd never say something like that, but sometimes we might feel like saying it. Have you ever noticed your own attitude not being very good, Bad, negative? Well, certainly we've all found ourselves there. Where do attitudes come from? Do we have any control over them? Or do we inherit them from our parents, our grandparents? Is it just a part of who we are? God's word tells us that we're to grow in the grace, in knowledge of Jesus Christ. In second Peter 3:18, this means that we need a change, which certainly includes our attitudes. In his book Attitude 101, John Maxwell states the A person's attitude imparts his relationship. It colors his view of failure and defines his approach to success. Attitude can make or break you. What does God say about attitude? And that's the point of the message today. Good attitudes don't just happen. God allows you to choose your attitude under any given circumstance. And that's what I'll be addressing today, that attitudes don't just happen on their own. God gives you and me the ability to choose our attitudes. For those who like a title Attitude is a Choice, Attitude is a Choice. Let's notice In Philippians chapter 2, Philippians 2, we'll read verses 12 and 13. Philippians chapter two, Verse 12. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence. And what a thought. And the apostle Paul had a very close relationship with those whom he served. And he was very moved that they were moved to do the right thing, even when he was not present. But he said, here, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. It's a huge decision that we make many decisions working out our own salvation. It's up to us. And God gives us the chance to choose. And he mentions a couple of interesting points here, especially one. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God. It is God who works in you. And he doesn't just say here, he helps us to do the right thing. But no, it is God who works in you both to will, to will to choose what we're going to do. It is God who works in you both to will to make a choice and to to do for his good pleasure. So God gives us that wonderful ability. In fact, he even tells us many times in his word that we're to choose. He wants us to make the right choice, but he doesn't make it for us. We have to do that on our own. It's interesting that Philippians is one of the four epistles that are called prison epistles. These were letters written by the Apostle Paul during his imprisonment. Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. These letters are so named because Paul himself references being a prisoner in each one of them. They were most likely written during his first Roman imprisonment around 60 to 62 AD. And we'll be covering several verses from especially the Epistle of Philippians here. And it's quite interesting, very inspiring in fact, to see that what he says, his attitude in prison, and what he was admonishing his beloved brethren to do, how to think and how to respond to their conditions when he was going through such difficult, difficult conditions. Philippians is a warm personal letter. It encourages the church to have joy despite suffering and to live in unity and humility, not letting external circumstances control or dictate their attitudes, how they would live. So we're to work out our own salvation and God helps us. He gives us the ability to both to will, to think, to make decisions with our willpower, and then to carry that out through our actions. Let's notice James, chapter 4. James, chapter 4. And starting in verse 6, as some of the commentators would have it, James 6, verse. I'm sorry, James 4, 6b. The last half of the verse. James 4, 6, verse 6b. He says God resists the proud. God resists the proud. But he gives grace to the humble, those who will listen, those who are teachable. Then he goes on, therefore, submit to God. Submit to God. This takes an active choice. If we don't choose to submit to God, we're choosing not to submit to God. That deals with our attitude, doesn't it? Submit to God. Then he goes on, resist the devil. Again, an active choice of the will. A choice to resist the devil. If we don't, if we just get so busy with life that we just let it happen. Guess what? We are not resisting the devil. And he is just coming right up, cozying up to us, just watching for just the slightest opportunity to get a toehold and to influence our attitudes, our minds. You know, we've heard so many times that he's the prince of the power of the air. Ephesians, chapter two. And to help us understand, we talk about. He broadcasts, in a sense, in attitudes. And, you know, he has most of the channels all locked up and so easy to tune in, to dial into his channel. He has all kinds that appeal to everything. The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, the pride of life. And if we aren't making an active effort to resist him and to tune into God's channel the narrow way, then we are locking into his attitudes. It's affecting us very powerfully. And he goes on to say here, to submit to God, resist the devil. And if we do that, he is going to flee from us. Now, the corollary to that is, if we're not resisting, guess what? He's not fleeing. He's right there. He's right there in our company. So, and we're tuning into one of his stations and we can go back and forth, just like you do with the. We used to do in the old days, punch the button in the like, say in the car, more modernized now. So submit to God, resist the devil, he'll flee from you, and then again, draw near to God, draw near to God, an active choice, and he will draw near to you. So quite a profound concept brought out here that it takes an active effort to draw near to God to be able to have that contact with Him. We're told that, well, the question, can two walk together in Amos 3? Except they be agreed? And the answer is very obvious, no, we can't walk with God unless we are agreed. And he's not going to change his mind to meet ours. We must draw near to Him. And when we do that, then he draws near to us. And we can have that close relationship. And Satan is out somewhere looking for somebody else, because when we resist him and draw near to God, Satan has to leave us alone. So again, it deals with a choice. A choice. It deals with attitude, doesn't deals with attitude. Again, the management guru, John Maxwell. You can tell I do like him quite well. He says, life is 10%, how we make it 90%, how we take it. Now, I don't know how they figured out. The percentage may be correct. Maybe it's off, maybe it's 85, 15, maybe it's 80, 20. But the principle I believe is correct, is accurate, that what happens to us is not the major, the dominant factor of what our attitudes are, but it's how we respond, how we respond. And again, we have the ability to choose that we aren't slaves. Well, we can become slaves or entities but we have the ability that God has given us to choose our attitudes. So life is the majority is what happens to us. We can't control that. But the major part of how it affects our lives is how we choose to respond. We are largely the result of our attitudes which lead to habits and our nature. One of my favorite writings is called the Essence of Destiny. I tweaked it a little bit for the message today, and I think most of us are familiar with says, watch your thoughts. Watch your thoughts, for they become attitudes. Our thoughts become attitudes. Study your attitudes, for they inspire your words. Choose your words, for they become actions. Understand your actions, for they become habits. Study your habits, for they will become your character. And we know how important character is. Develop your character, for it becomes your destiny. It becomes your destiny. It all starts back with our thoughts, our attitudes that we have control over. Yes, attitude has a profound impact on your life and on mine. Number of points here, quotations. If your attitude enables you to learn from your mistakes and then let them go, learn from your mistakes, let them go. You will be able to focus on the present. You'll be able to live your life, the here and now. If your attitude causes you to rise above the pettiness of those around you, small annoyances, you will be able to give your energy to things that really matter and it's under our control. If you have an attitude that takes time for physical rest, spiritual reflection and relaxing recreation, you will be able to think clearly and energetically. Workaholics can't really do that because life controls them. If your attitude enjoys today in all that it has to offer, you'll be far better prepared to face tomorrow. If you have a thankful attitude that expresses gratitude to God and others through words and actions, you will be aware of the value that they bring to you. You know, expressing appreciation is becoming a lost art, isn't it? Hearing thank you is becoming more and more rare. That's an attitude. That's an attitude. That attitude pleases God, produces much greater fulfillment. If your attitude inspires you to give more than you receive, you'll contribute to society, surprise your spouse in some cases, and be a positive model for your children and those around you. It is a reality of life that God chooses what we go through. He permits it, but he allows us to choose how we go through it. Big responsibility, isn't it? Much easier said than done. Experience tells us that attitude, more than age, determines energy. Attitude, more than age, determines energy. A number of you might be familiar with a man named Roger Crawford. Roger Crawford, he was a quadriplegic. No hands, three toes on one foot. The other foot was so deformed that it was amputated. His parents were told, your son will never walk. He'll never be a normal individual. Can you imagine being told that? Well, they were very resilient individuals, and they didn't accept that. And they worked with their son very diligently, and they encouraged him not to feel sorry for himself, to be responsible for how he took life, in spite of the fact he didn't have any full limbs. Well, you know, Roger went on to become the first and probably the only quadriplegic to letter in a Sport, in an NCAA Division 1 college. He became a varsity tennis player at Loyola Marymount University, later becoming a professional tennis player. How do you do that? We have these little short stubs. One had two fingers, the other had one. And those who are familiar with a tennis racket, the part, the handle that connects to the racket part, it branches into two. And he would take the two fingers and he would stick them right next to the racket there. They fit in there. And then he would let his little short arm here function as part of the handle of the racket. His other hand, with the one finger, he would push his little stub here against the racket. And he would take his swings like this with both hands. And he got to where he was quite quick, and he could hit the ball quite hard and very well. He actually made varsity, university level, instead of feeling sorry for himself. But I thought it was very interesting, very encouraging. He said, I believe that real and lasting limitations. Boy, he had them, didn't he? Physically, I believe that real and lasting limitations are created in our minds. Our minds, not our bodies. What a statement for somebody who didn't have any full limbs. Yes, it's easy to get into a rut. You know, one definition of a ruth is it's a grave without the ends. A grave without the ends. Many get into a rut, maybe most of us, from time to time. Attitudes determine our actions. You're not what you think you are. Now think about that, because we think that that's not true. Quite a profound statement here. You are not what you think you are. Think about it. You're not what you think you are, what you think you are. Just a little different way of using the same words, what you think you are. Let's see what God says about that in Proverbs 23, Proverbs 23, verses 6 and 7, Proverbs 23, verse 6. It's easy to get sidetracked here. He says in verse 6, Proverbs 23, do not eat the bread of a miser, one with an evil eye. Somebody who's stingy. So he's covering a couple of points here, but the main one is just coming up here. Nor desires delicacies. For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. You're not what you think you are, what you think you are. This individual, this stingy individual that's giving you, offering you a meal or something. But it's not in his heart. Even though the words may sound good, may look good, and we are guilty of that too, sometimes. But as we think in our heart, that's what we really are. As Christ said, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Now, I know in this case he covered over it, but it comes out eventually, doesn't it? It comes out eventually. So as he thinks in his heart, as you think, as I think in my heart, deep down, that's what we really are. And we try to put on a facade sometimes. We fool ourselves. We know how we should think, but how we really think, our true attitudes, that's how we really are. And that's what God looks at. That's what God looks at. We are either masters of our attitudes or we become their victims. Their victims. What about you? What about me? It's a matter of personal choice. It's a blessing or a curse. Let's notice Deuteronomy 30. Deuteronomy 30 in verse 19 in our local congregations, one of our meditation scriptures. Deuteronomy 30. In verse 19, God says, I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death. Two choices. Mr. Armstrong talked about the two trees so many times. The tree of life, the tree of knowledge, of good and evil, a mixture that leads to death. God says, choose. I give you that option. Choose. You know, two witnesses, the mouth of two or three witnesses, heaven and earth. I said before you, life and death, blessing and cursing. Of course life brings blessings. Death is a curse. Therefore, choose life. Yes, God wants us. He wants us to make the right choice. I know we certainly in the ministry want all of those that we serve and everybody to make the right choice. We want to make the right choice ourselves. So the choice is before us. Therefore, he says, choose life. The choice is yours. He here's what I want you to do. I want to give you everything, but the choice is yours. Choose life. That both you and your descendants, your children, your grandchildren, all the Way down may live. So God says, we have this choice. Life. It's an attitude, isn't it? Death is a choice. And again, sometimes it's by default where we just slip into our normal natural way of behaving, which sometimes is not good. We need to get out of our comfort zone, out of our default, if our default happens to be a wrong attitude. So yes, attitude is a choice. God allows you and me to choose the attitude that we have in spite of the circumstances around us. We can let them get us down, get us negative, whatever, but we don't have to now. It's not easy, very difficult, but we can do it. What is an attitude in the book the winning attitude? A description here of attitude. Attitude is the advance man of our true selves. It's out in front. Of. Its roots are inward, but its fruit is outward. It comes from within, but then it radiates out. It is our best friend or our worst enemy. It is more honest and more consistent than our words. Our words can be deceptive. The attitude is real. It is real. It is an outward look based on our past experiences. It's a thing which draws people to us or repels them from us. It is never content until it is expressed. You know, we can hold things in, but eventually they're going to come out. They're going to come out. Never content until it's expressed. It is the librarian of our past. It is the speaker of our present. It is the prophet of our future. The prophet of our future. So important God says choose. He gives us that prerogative. Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, said, nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal. Nothing on earth can help the man who with the wrong mental attitude. Some just self destruct. They start off, it looks like they're trying to be successful, but they subvert themselves because the attitude deep down is not positive. Attitude once again can make or break you. Talent is not enough, for example, to make a championship team. I remember one of my teams I really enjoyed in basketball was the Los Angeles Lakers, especially years ago. But they had a star studded team a few years back. Best players in the league, but you know what? And they got to the finals. But they got whipped because the attitudes were not as good as the opposing team. The opposing team worked together. These individuals who were really good did not work together as well. Their attitudes, frankly, they stunk and it cost them the world title. Talent's not enough. Good attitudes among players do not guarantee a team's success. But bad attitudes guarantee failure. Same thing in our individual lives. Several things on a team are not contagious. Talent, for example. Experience, willingness to practice, to work hard. But one thing is definitely true. Attitude is catching. Attitude is catching. And some of the greatest teams, they had superstars that had really good attitudes and their job, they really wanted to bring the best out of their teammates. Michael Jordan, his team was extremely successful. He was an outstanding athlete. He wasn't always that way. In fact, in high school he wasn't good or anywhere near that good. But the other players played much better when he was on the floor. And they won championship after championship. But attitudes are catching. I know sports, you have, you're always trying to do better and faster, higher. Just like the Olympics. Well, runners have always, like all athletes, tried to push the envelope. Running faster, breaking records, running the mile is no different. During the first half of the 20th century, runners hit a barrier. They kept getting faster and faster and. And they hit a barrier. The four minute mile. See, nobody could break through that barrier. This went on for a period of time. In fact, some of the many experts believed it was impossible for a human being to run that fast. A human being could not break the four minute mile. It was impossible. Then, May 6, 1954, a British university student, Roger Bannister, many of us are familiar with the name Roger Bannister. He ran a mile in 3 minutes 59, 4/10 seconds. The world was ecstatic. At least the running world was. The impossible had just been done became possible. Interesting. Nobody could break the four minute mile for quite some time. Guess what happened less than two months later? Two months. Australian John Landy also broke the four minute barrier. And then suddenly dozens and then hundreds of others broke it. Why? Why? Because attitudes of the best runners. Attitudes changed. What has seemed impossible for so long suddenly became possible. And the speeds got faster, the times got less, shorter. Top runners began to adopt the mindset, the attitude of their peers. Yes, I can do that. And many did. Today every world class miler can run a mile in under four minutes. That was impossible, many experts thought. Now they all on the world class level do. Yes, attitudes are contagious. So our positive attitudes have a great impact, not just on us, but on those that we come into contact with. Just like so many other things, bad attitudes compound faster than good ones. We've all heard the saying, a rotten apple rottens, the whole bunch rots. The whole bunch need to get rid of it. Yes, attitudes are contagious. And good ones, how delightful they are. Can an attitude be Changed. Yes, it can. Yes, it can. There's a very important key. The key to having a good attitude is the willingness to change. The willingness to change, to not be set in our ways, not set in our own habits, our own patterns, our default gear. We are either the masters of our attitudes or its victims. It is a matter of choice, and each one of us is in the driver's seat. And we do make that choice, whether deliberately or by default. Who we are today is a result of the choices we made yesterday. Tomorrow, we will become what we choose today. To change means to choose to change. To choose to change. Anyone can become the kind of positive person for whom life is a joy and every day is filled with potential if they genuinely desire to do so. If you want to have a great attitude, then we need to make certain choices. Okay, here's the key. Evaluate your present attitude. Evaluate your present attitude. We must first know where the starting point is, where we are. This will take some time. It's challenging, yes. Now, the goal is not to beat ourselves up, to show how bad we are. No, rather to see where the wrong attitudes are that keep us from achieving the happiness, the goals that we seek in life, of becoming more fulfilled individuals. We can make key changes only when we identify the problem. And writing is so important. To write these down in a journal, make a list, a diary, something. But to write them down, it takes some good, deep self reflection. Are you mostly positive and be honest or so so or negative? And some are primarily negative? Are you disciplined or undisciplined? Do you get up when your alarm goes off or do you hit your snooze button many times? Do you go to bed at a set time? Every night, at least most nights? Do you exercise regularly? These are all attitudes, aren't they? Do you keep your desk, your work area neat, clean? Do you have a place for everything and put everything in its place? Do you keep up with your emails, phone calls, communications? Do you make your bed? Very popular book recently by a Navy seal. Do you take care of important tasks in a timely manner? How do you respond when you're hit with a setback? Do you automatically get discouraged, depressed? Do you beat yourself up, oh, why did I do this? I'm no good? Or are you ready to take on the challenge, which is positive? Do you find yourself uttering four letter words, expletives? How do you respond when something good happens? Is it a special blessing for you, you know, a special blessing for you or someone you know immediately? Do you say, thank you, God? Are you Appreciative? Or is it just bounce off your back? You don't pay any attention? Do you procrastinate? Put things off? Are you a perfectionist? Are you sloppy? I remember the cartoon had these children. I want the top bunk. That way I can get an aerial view of my wardrobe. Their clothes are all scattered around. Are you sloppy? Are you punctual? Going to work, going to school, going to catch the bus? How about coming to church? Do you come on time to be able to get your seats and fellowship, at least for a little while? Or do you come at the last minute? Maybe when the song is going? What does that say about our character? It says a lot, doesn't it? Again, these are attitudes. They're attitudes, and we have the control to change them, to change them if we truly want to. So if we write these things down, write them down. Problem feelings. What attitudes make you feel the most negative about yourself? Often feelings can be sensed before the problem is clarified. You. You sense something there, but it's hard to put your finger on it. What attitudes cause you the most problems in dealing with others? Problem thinking. We are the sum of our thoughts. Okay? We read in Proverbs 23:7, as a man thinks in his heart, as an individual thinks in his or her heart, so is that individual. What thoughts consistently occupy your mind or control your mind? Are you excited about life? Are you filled with worry? Worry over your job, over finances, over your health? Maybe you feel you aren't growing as you should. Again, this takes time. It's not easy, but it is very productive to write these things down and deal with them. Clarify these points using God's word. Do a study in God's word. Focus on his truth. Philippians 4, 8, 8, 9. Philippians. Here again, this prison epistle. Philippians. Chapter four, verse eight. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, and we don't stop with that, oh, this is true. Maybe it's something negative. No. Whatever is true, whatever things are noble, positive, uplifting, have value to them. Whatever things are just. The God that we serve and worship is a just God. Whatever things are pure and we're to be growing in purity. Whatever things are lovely or beautiful, good, solid, whatever things are of good, report, add value to others. If there is any virtue. Again, positive, good, anything worthwhile, if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things. Make an effort. Make an effort. This is what our attitude should reflect. How well are we doing? How well am I doing? The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do. And the God of peace will be with you. That quality that we all search for. Peace. Peace of mind. The world hasn't a clue how to go about it. They're going about it the wrong way. Their attitudes are wrong. They're all tuned into Satan's channels. Selfish. The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, the pride of life, man's way, the two trees, good and evil. The philosopher William James remarked, the greatest discovery of my generation, the greatest discovery of my generation is that people can alter their lives by altering their attitudes. Psychology came across that back in the 20th century. They were studying and they found what God's word has said from way back. No change depends upon your frame of mind. You must believe that you can change. Make a commitment to change. What must I change? Remember, the choice to change is the one decision that must be made and only you can make it for yourself. Make a plan, carry it out. So make a list of your attitudes. And then a second point. Write a statement of purpose. Statement of purpose for yourself. To change your attitude, you've got to clearly have a clearly stated goal. What are you wanting to accomplish? The more specific, the better. Write it out, have a time frame and then sign it. I want to have my desk, my office, cleaned by January 15th. I want to have it really neat, have everything where it's supposed to go. So write specifically what you want to accomplish each day. I want to be closer to God. Okay, I need to be praying so much a day and studying the Bible so much a day and meditating. I'll be fasting. I want to try doing it every month or two months and put it down, put it down. And those tools are so important. I remember working in one area once there was an individual very capable, very capable and had a lot of potential. Had some challenges with the ministry. Different one myself and also the other minister. And one day he come and I was talking with him and, you know, I haven't been fasting, but I see that's very important. And we had a good talk. I challenged him and I said, you know what? He was going to go once a month, I'll fast with you. And so anyway, after the first one, he said, wow, wow, that was learned so much. And the second one and third, it got better and after a while shifted back into default mode and then later got fired up again. So write these things down. Have goals. What is it you want to accomplish? And then have a time frame. Have a time frame and then put it where you can see it every day, where you can see it maybe on the mirror when you shave or put your makeup on, comb your hair. Verbalize what you want to accomplish each day. Tell a friend your mate. Select one or more scriptures we're in. Philippians. Here, here again, this prison epistle and just so many Nuggets. Okay, verse 10. We read verses 8 and 9. But I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at your care for me has flourished again, though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Again, positive, encouraging them. Not that I speak in regard to need. For I've learned in whatever state I am to be content. That's an attitude, isn't it? He learned. He made a conscious decision, and here he's writing this encouraging letter from prison. I have learned whatever state I'm in, I'm content. I accept it. God's in charge. God, give me the strength to be able to deal with this in a way that brings honor and glory to you. Help me to not be focused on just what it means for me, how I feel that I can be a good example. And boy, what a fabulous example he was. To be content. I know how to be abased. I know how to abound. If things are going well, yeah, I can handle that. But, you know, sometimes that leads to a person's demise as well. But I've learned also, when things aren't going so well, like right now in prison, how to handle that everywhere and in all things, I have learned both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Nothing's impossible. All things. So write down some scriptures. I mean, I've got quite a few here, more than I have time to go through. Another one of our. Well, that was one of our meditation scriptures. Another one, verses 6 and 7. Be anxious for nothing. Do you ever feel anxious? Uneasy? Be anxious for nothing. But in everything, by prayer, talking to God, this word is talking about worship. Worship, that attitude, that relationship with God. And then by prayer and supplication that's making the request, please help me, God, to be able to deal with this. Help me to want to do the right thing. Help me to desire it. So with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving. Don't leave that one out. With thanksgiving. Let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds. It doesn't stop there. Through Christ Jesus. Through Christ Jesus. First Corinthians 10, verses 12 and 13, especially 13, God will not allow us to be tempted or tested beyond what what we can bear. But with the temptation, the trial will make the way of escape. It doesn't mean he's going to take it away. In fact, the Greek word there actually carries the meaning of going through it, going through the trial and coming out the other end. Stronger, better than you were before because of the strength that God's given. But ask, pray for it, focus on it. I know when I was in sales we were often told, well, have this little self talk. Like one salesman, very successful. Every morning he would say, I can do it, I can do it 50 times. Then before you go to bed, 50 times again, I can do it, I can do it. That sometimes works for a while. But how much better to have these promises from God's Word and quote them back to God. Quote them back to him. So take an action every day. Do something. Number 3. Change your thought patterns. Change your thought patterns. How you think. Philippians 2, verse 5. Let this mind be in you, which is also in Christ Jesus. His mind. Focus on it. Let that become a pattern for life. I read Philippians 4, 6, 7. Be anxious for nothing. That which holds our attention determines our actions. We are what we are and where we are because of the dominant thoughts that occupy our minds. I want to give you a form of deductive reasoning. It's called a syllogism. Syllogism. And basically what it is. It's a. It's a way of thinking. It's a three step argument consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and then a conclusion. A conclusion. Okay. For example, major. We can control our thoughts. It's been proven over and over. We can control our thoughts. The minor premise, our feelings come from our thoughts. What we're thinking of affects our feelings, which are very closely related to attitudes or attitudes. Now those are both true. We can control our feelings or our attitudes by learning to change how we think. Thinking more as Christ thought and thinks. Feelings come from our thoughts. Therefore, we can change our feelings by changing our thought patterns. So again, it's not circumstances, but how we think about those circumstances that determines our happiness, our fulfillment. Many individuals believe they'll be happy when they attain a certain goal. However, when they do reach the goal, often they find the fulfillment they were expecting is not there. The secret of living a fulfilling life. Fill your mind with good thoughts. We've read Philippians 4, 8 and 9. Yes, we can choose our attitudes. I'd like to mention an example. Okay. In 1942 in Vienna, Viktor Frankl, many of you have heard his name. A great dynamic individual in the field of psychology, psychiatry. He was 37 years old, a respected psychiatrist with a growing practice. He had a manuscript that was ready, nearly complete. He had a wife named Tilly whose laugh could just fill the room. Just a very fun individual. He had a chance to escape to America. He had a visa. He had a way out. But his elderly parents couldn't come, so he stayed. Within months, the Nazis came and rounded his family up. His life's work, his purpose. He had it sewed into his jacket. His research. The Germans tore it off him and burned it, destroyed it. They threw his name away, shaved his head. All that was left was the number 11 9. That's who he was. Victor Frankl knew something about the human mind that would keep him alive and give birth to a revolutionary form of psychology. He noticed a pattern in the camps. He was in three different camps, that is concentration camps, including Auschwitz and Dachau. And he found that individuals didn't just die from starvation or disease. Some did. But the big point, he noticed, is that when a prisoner lost his reason to survive, his why? Why am I here? His body would collapse within days. The doctors had a term give up itis. But those who held onto something survived. It didn't matter about the food, the conditions, the work load. The difference wasn't physical strength. It wasn't food, wasn't conditions. It was meaning. It was meaning he would approach just with men. He would approach them. Who's waiting for you? What work is left unfinished? What would you tell your son about surviving this? He couldn't offer him food and couldn't give him any of those things. One man remembered his daughter. He survived to find her. Another remembered a scientific problem he'd been working on. He survived to solve it. Frankl himself survived by mentally reconstructing his lost manuscript page by page. April 1945. Liberation. Viktor Frankl weighed 85 pounds. His ribs showed through his skin. His beloved wife, Tilly, was gone. His mother was gone. His brother was gone. Everything he loved had been murdered. He had every reason to despair, every reason to give up. Instead, he sat down and began writing. In nine days, he recreated his thesis, a new form of therapy, therapy through meaning. He called it Logotherapy. Humans can survive almost anything if they have a reason why. He published his book Man's Search for Meaning in the English Language. Therapists read it and wept. Prisoners read it and found hope. People facing divorce, bankruptcy, depression read it and discovered their suffering could have purpose. The Library of Congress named it one of the ten most influential books in America. He mentioned the freedom to choose what it all means. You cannot control what happens to you, but you can always control what you make of what happens. Your attitude of all the people, the 8 billion people on the face of the earth, we have the best understanding of why we're here. A purpose that can help us maintain a positive attitude. Here's a writing here. I woke up today early, excited over all that I get to do before the clock strikes midnight, 10 o', clock, whatever bedtime is. I have responsibilities to fulfill. I have purpose. My life matters. My job is to choose what kind of day I'm going to have today. I can complain because the weather is rainy, or I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free today. I can feel sad that I don't have more money, or I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste. Today I can grumble about my health, or I can rejoice that I'm alive today. I can lament over all that my parents didn't give me when I was growing up, or I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born. Today. I can mourn my lack of friends, or I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new relationships. Today I can whine because I have to go to work, or I can be thankful because I have a job to do. Today I can complain because I have to go to school or eagerly open my mind to fill it with rich new tidbits of knowledge. Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework, or I can feel honored because the God of the universe has provided shelter for my body, my mind and my soul. Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped. And here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping. What today will be like is up to me. I get to choose what kind of day I will have. I get to choose my attitude. What kind of a day will you have? Yes, brethren, attitudes don't just happen. God allows us to choose our attitudes in any given circumstance. Yes, attitude is a choice. So why not choose a good one? Better yet, why not choose a great one? Why not choose a godly attitude? The choice is yours.