Attitude says a lot about what is inside of us. Attitude is an inward feeling expressed by an outward behavior. Whatever is in us will come out of us. Attitude is the rudder of our life. So goes our attitude so goes our outlook on life. If we choose a great attitude life gets easier, however, when we choose a bad attitude life just gets harder. God chooses what we go through, we choose how we will go through it! We can’t change what God has in store for us, but we can choose how we handle it. Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we respond to it. American Novelist Raymond Chandler said, “Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.”

The difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is their RESPONSE to circumstances. Successful people learn and live form their experiences. Unsuccessful people become bitter and give up because of their experiences. Unsuccessful people are REACTIVE. Successful people are PROACTIVE. Proactive people take responsibility for their attitudes, reactive people are controlled by their attitude. Unless you are able to harness your attitude you will never be able to steer your life in the right direction. Reactive people get knocked off course easily. They are swayed by the way other people treat them, they are bitter about circumstances in their life, they feel insecure and out of control. Proactive people are focused on their journey, they get better as they learn from their circumstances, and they feel confident in their purpose!

So are you a proactive person or a reactive person?

Remember Joseph in the Bible? He had a dream about being a leader one day, and his brothers despised him for it. They threw him in a pit then sold him into slavery. From their Joseph goes to prison and his life is spinning out of control. If anyone had a right to have a terrible attitude it was Joseph. But instead of complaining and feeling sorry for himself he allows God to use him in the prison to interpret dreams and encourage others. Because of his faithfulness God opens up the door for him to be a ruler in Egypt through a series of circumstances that happened. Later, when Josephs brothers come to Joseph they were scared thinking that he would have them all killed for what they did, after all they treated him horribly. But listen to Josephs proactive response…

Genesis 50:15-21

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,”they said.

19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

Joseph chose to have a Godly attitude towards his brothers. He knew that what the enemy meant for evil God used for the good! Attitude is about seeing the end. It is about knowing that God is in control and holds all things in the palm of His hands. Don’t be discouraged by your circumstances, keep your attitude in check in a way that honors God. Always be proactive by choosing the right attitude in life.