Our attitudes affect how we express ourselves and understand others (and God!). The same way we put on glasses to read; we put on our relational attitude or lens to decode interactions. We use our attitude to translate our motive into expressions.
God wants us to have good intentions: “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good” (Luke 6:45). Additionally, he wants us to have good attitudes: “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5).
We mature our attitude into a Christ-like attitude in four stages; each of which forms a specific relational lens.
1- Receiving enough love deposits. From this, we form the bonding lens, and use it to stay rooted in love. “For neither Israel nor Judah has been forsaken by his God, the Lord of hosts, although their land is full of guilt Before the Holy One of Israel” (Jeremiah 51:5). “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18).
2- Building an identity. Through this, we form the distinctness lens to understand our freedom of will and responsibility in claiming God’s covenants. “If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land” (Isaiah 1:19). “For each one will bear his own load” (Galatians 6:5).
3- Resolving our inner conflict, through which we form the integration lens to administer grace and reconcile with others. “God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18).
4- Claiming the authority granted to you by God. Through this, we form the levelness lens to lead and serve impartially. “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you” (Luke 10:19). “For there is no partiality with God” (Romans 2:11).
Take ownership of your attitude, so you can polish your lenses. For then, your light will shine brighter in front of others as you interact with them. They will see Jesus in you and praise our Father in heaven.
