Serving Challenge: An 11-Day Life-Changing Journey to Serve Like Jesusናሙና

Day 3 Serving Like Jesus: Your Attitude

Did you know that you have a lot happening in your brain? There are about 12000 to 60000 thoughts that you have per day, and many of our thoughts are negative and repetitive. Scientists call these thoughts Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs).

Needless to say, there’s a lot happening in our minds, and when we can change our mindset, or our attitudes, we truly can change our lives.

There is a three-step process that the Apostle Paul lays out in Philippians 4:6-8 that can help change your attitude.

1. Remove the ANTs

First, Paul says we don't have to hang onto our negative thoughts or anxiety. Not every idea that comes into your head is worthwhile or true. You don't have to fixate on every thought. Instead, you can give every negative thought to God. Paul permits us in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

We do this through prayer—conversation with God. You can test every thought because God desires to be in a relationship with us. He'll never tire of listening to and spending time with you.

Paul then moves to the second step: "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

2. Chat GPTs (Godly Positive Thoughts)

I know that AI, specifically Chat GPT, is all the rage in 2023. But, what if you used a different type of GPT? Godly Positive Thoughts. It's not enough to remove negative thoughts. We must intentionally think godly thoughts. The apostle Paul tells us in Colossians 3:2, "Set your minds on things above, not earthly things." What are those things above? He provides an incredible list right here. He urges us to think true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy thoughts.

Then, Paul gives us the third and final step: "Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

3. Repeat the Practice

Paul says, "Put it into practice." This is not a one-time event. If you have between 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts per day, there are ample opportunities every day to renew your mind.

At the end of this process, Paul says that we will be filled with peace. And God's peace will transcend human understanding. It means to go above, beyond, or surpass. God's peace is what the world, you, and I need more of.

Challenge:

Practice the three-step process that Paul lays out.

1. Remove: What negative thoughts are you feeling today? List them and pray that God would remove them.

2. Replace: Think positive thoughts. List one thing you think about for each of the words Paul gives us in Philippians 4.

3. Repeat: After completing this exercise once, repeat it every time a negative thought triggers you.