How to Practice Replacement Thinking - Eph. 4:22-24
Someone once said, "Attitude is everything." People with great attitude succeed. Those with negative attitudes fail.
Illustration;Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: To choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s way.
Viktor Frankl, concentration camp survivor. Philippians 2:12-18.
Joe Theismann enjoyed an illustrious 12-year career as quarterback of the Washington Redskins. He led the team to two Super Bowl appearances--winning in 1983 before losing the following year. When a leg injury forced him out of football in 1985, he was entrenched in the record books as Washington’s all-time leading passer. Still, the tail end of Theismann’s career taught him a bitter lesson: I got stagnant. I thought the team revolved around me. I should have known it was time to go when I didn’t care whether a pass hit Art Monk in the 8 or the 1 on his uniform. When we went back to the Super Bowl, my approach had changed. I was griping about the weather, my shoes, practice times, everything.
Today I wear my two rings--the winner’s ring from Super Bowl XVII and the loser’s ring from Super Bowl XVIII. The difference in those two rings lies in applying oneself and not accepting anything but the best.
Reader’s Digest, January, 1992.
Paul urged the early Christians to replace their old sinful natural responses to difficulties with new attitudes. The great apostle wrote, "Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires. To be made new in the attitude of your minds and put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." (Eph. 4:22-24)
The following are some guidelines to help us learn to replace negative attitudes with Christlike positive attitudes.
By knowing, believing and practicing these attitudes you will demonstrate that you are more than a conqueror through the One who loves you.
1. Replace evil with good. Paul wrote, "Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good." (Rom. 12:21)
People who are able to utilize the power of the word of God and the Holy Spirit that indwells them in all of their relationships, thinking and activities will form the basis for healthy living.
2. Replace worry with faith. Paul wrote, "Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which trancends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:6-8)
Do not get upset when things do not go your way realizing that He can use disappointments to develop in us greater godliness.
3. Replace despair with hope. David wrote, "The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love." (Psa. 33:17,18)
Hope in God instead of yourself, your friends or your circumstances.
4. Replace anger with love. Jonah wrote, "I knew that ouare a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love." Love is patient and kind, not jealous or envious or boastful or proud or haughty or selfish or rude. It does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It does not easily become angry. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. Christ’s love for you enables you to love others instead of allowing anger to get the better of your attitudes.
5. Replace suspicion with trust. Solomon wrote, "Trus tin the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insights. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." (Prov. 3:5,6) It is amazing what God can do with people who are loving and trusting. Love and trust breeds an environment of multiplication of His kingdom and righteousness. People who know they are loved and trustworthy can accomplish anything with the help of Christ who gives them the strength and power.
6. Replace cynicism with belief. We live in a very cynical and skeptical world. Abraham did too but it was written of him. "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith and gave glory to God. Being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised." (Rom. 4:20,21)Let faith give you the victory that overcomes the world.
7. Replace sorrow with joy. Paul wrote, "I am sorrowful, yet always rejoicing, poor, yet making many rich, having nothing and yet possessing all things.’ (2 Cor. 6:9,10) Take an inventory of all the great things you have in Christ Jesus.
8. Replace gloom with cheerfulness. Paul wrote, "Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice. PHi. 4:4 Happiness is a choice that requires deterimation to be happy amidst sad situations. Shout to the Lord al the earth let us sing. Power and majesty praise to the king. The joy of the Lord is our ever fountain of strength. Neh. 8:10
9. Anxiety with Security. Job said, "For I dreaded destruction from God and for fear of His splendor I could not do such things. If I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, ’Youare are my security." (Job 31:23,24) My God shall supply all you need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:19)
10. Distress with confidence. "I praise you Lord for giving me your sense of certainty. For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth." (Psa 71:5) Be confident in His mighty power, plan and sovereign will for your life. He works in ways you cannot see. He will make a way for you amidst the foggy times and feelings.
11. Jealous with contentment. "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am in. I can do everything God asks me to do with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power." (Phil. 4:12,13)
12. Resignation with Determination. "Be strong and courageous and act. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. He will not fail you or forsake you until all of the work of the house of God is finished." (Josh. 1:9)
13. Defamation with Inspiration. "Whatever is true, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatver is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.’ (Phil. 4:8) When people try to put you down overpower them with the inspiration you receive from God’s word and Spirit.
14. Attacks with prayer. "Casting all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you." Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around you like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (I Pet. 5:7,8)
Appropriate the fact that the prayers of a righteous person avails much. James 5:16. You have not because you ask not. James 4:1-4. Do not take vengeance in your own hands but leave room for the wrath of God. Bless those who persecute you. Bless and curse not. Pray for your enemies.
Tell your adversaries that you will pray for them.
15. Confusion with wisdom. "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him. (James 1:5) God longs to give us insights, knowledge and supernatural wisdom if we will call on Him in our times of need.
16. Extremism with balance. "and Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man." (Lk 2:52) Learn to speak the truth in love so you can grow up in all aspects of maturity in Christ." Eph. 4:15
17. Fleshly attitudes with Spirit led thoughts. "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace." Rom 8:6-8 . Make a choice to be led by the Spirit or you will succumb to your own self-destructive desires and impulses.
18. Indiscipline with Discipline. Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness. For godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.’ (I tim. 4:7,8)
With godliness comes all kinds of blessings but indiscipline leads to captivity to our sinful desires.
19. Impulsiveness with Carefulness - Flee evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace along with those who call on the Lord our of pure heart. Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments because you know they produce quarrels." (2 Tim. 2:22,23)
Be objective in your thinking instead of allowing subjective feelings to determine your course of actions and attitudes.
20. Error with truth. Jesus said, "You err because you do not know the scripture or the power of God." Learn how to know, obey and love the truth found in the scripture. Only then are we set free from negative attitudes and actions.
Conclusion:In Discipleship Journal, Carole Mayhall tells of a woman who went to a diet center to lose weight. The director took her to a full-length mirror. On it he outlined a figure and told her, "This is what I want you to be like at the end of the program." Days of intense dieting and exercise followed, and every week the woman would stand in front of the mirror, discouraged because her bulging outline didn’t fit the director’s ideal. But she kept at it, and finally one day she conformed to the longed-for image.
Daily Bread, August 8, 1990.
