One of the most commonly used words is attitude.  People are said to either have a good or bad one or someone might have an "attitude." Our attitudes can either be positive or negative.  Having the right attitude is more than just something you hear about in a motivational speech, it's the way we have to think as Christians.  That's our subject this morning.

A)  IT'S A CHOICE
     1.  We can control the way we think.  James 1:1-4 Are times difficult?  We can rejoice
     2.  Our circumstances may be out of our control, but we can remain strong  Phil 2: 17-18; 2 Cor 4:16-5:1

B)  IT ALL STARTS WITH SPIRITUAL GROWTH
     1.  We, as Christians, accept that challenge to grow - 2 Peter 3:18; with God's help - Phil 4: 13
     2.  We grow in behavior and in service - 2 Pet 1: 5-8; Rom 12: 3-5
     3.  A positive attitude helps us to continue grow - to know it's all worthwhile and that we can persevere through difficult times - 1 Cor 15:58; 2 Cor 4: 8-9

C)  NEGATIVISM IS DANGEROUS
     1.  Children  of Israel - Look at the result
          a.  The 12 spies - Num 13:32 - 14:4, 32: 7-9
          b.  Led to Israel rebelling and complaining against God - Deut 1: 26-28
          c.  Look at the result - Num 14: 26-38
     2.  What happens when we become negative?
          a.  We stop believing, stop trying, become discouragers and lose site of our goals.

D)  WE MUST BE POSITIVE
     1.  We can also look to the Old Testament - Neh 4: 1-15
     2.  We believe, we continue to try, we encourage and we reach the goals God places before us.

E)  ELIMINATE THE NEGATIVE
     1.  Watch our self-talk; "I can't" "it's too hard"
     2.  We CAN do what God wants us to do - Phil 4: 13, 2: 12-13
     3.  The harder you work, the greater the chance of success Ga 6: 7-9; 1 Tim 4: 15
     4.  Avoid negative people - their attitude is like a poison, it can affect everyone around them
     5.  " The Fellowship Of The Miserable" - Rick Pitino
     6.  Be around the positive - Philemon 4-7; 1 Cor 16: 17-18
     7.  Barnabas - Acts 4: 36; 11: 22-24
     8.  The right self-talk and the right friends - we can avoid the negativity Heb 3:13

F)  DON'T DWELL ON THE PAST
     1.  Paul could have - 1 Tim 1: 12-15
     2.  But he chose NOT to do that - Phil 3: 12-14
     3.  We live in the present, with an eye on the future - 2 Cor. 4: 17-18
     4.  It's a MATURE attitude

Conclusion:  God is ready to help us to grow, He provides the tools to do it, the church is designed to be an environment conducive for that growth and our labors will not be in vain.  Heb 6: 10.  LET"S NOT BE NEGATIVE.