 As Christians we must grow: 2 Pet. 3:18  We cannot remain “babes” in Christ: 1 Pet. 2:2; 1 Cor. 14:20; 2 Pet. 3:1  This truth was revealed centuries ago in God’s word: Prov. 23:7; Matt. 15: “Success or failure in any undertaking is caused more by mental attitude than by mental capacity.” Dr. Walter Scott, Northwestern University “The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind.” Dr. William James

 Attitude is everything! Prov. 23:7  Christians need a “can do” attitude: Neh. 4:6; Num. 13:30; 1 Sam. 17:26, 32, 37; Phil. 4:13; Eph. 3:20  Does a “can do” attitude describe you? 2 Cor. 13:5 4 As He Thinketh in His Heart

 Must lay a solid foundation:  Develop a good attitude toward self: Prov. 23:7  Expect more good than bad from life: 2 Cor. 4:16-17; Ex. 14:15; Prov. 17:22  Make a list of reasons why you CAN grow in the faith: 2 Pet. 1:5; Eph. 3:20  Believe in the power of prayer: 1 Thess. 5:17; Lk. 18:1-8  Visualize yourself growing in the Lord: Phil. 4:8-9  Associate with others with a good attitude: Prov. 12: As He Thinketh in His Heart “One does not have a good attitude because of his position in life; he has a good position in life because he has a good attitude.”

6 As He Thinketh in His Heart  “If we aim at nothing, we are guaranteed to hit it.”  “What the mind can conceive and believe—it can achieve.”  Two people worthy of emulation: Jn. 4:34; 19:30; Phil. 1:21; 3:13-14  Let us be determined: 2 Cor. 5:1-2

7 As He Thinketh in His Heart  All of us need to decide being a Christian and the goal of heaven is top priority in life: Matt. 16:26; 6:33; 5:6; Phil. 3:12-14  How often do you think about it? Prov. 23:7; Phil. 4:8-9; Prov. 4:23  There are great advantages in setting goals in your life: Phil. 1:21

8 As He Thinketh in His Heart  Toward life itself: 1 Pet. 3:10; Deut. 30:19  Life is a gift from God: Gen. 2:7  We are made in God’s image: Gen. 1:26-27  Your life is the target of the devil: Jn. 8:44; 1 Pet. 5:8  Life is full of choices: Josh. 24:15  Live is brief: Jas. 4:14; Gal. 6:7-8; Eccl. 12:1

9 As He Thinketh in His Heart  Toward sin:  God won’t overlook it: Heb. 5:9; 10:28-31  Separates us from God: Isa. 59:2  Sin is deceptive: Heb. 3:13; 11:25; 1 Cor. 10:12  Sin has consequences: Prov. 13:15; Rom. 6:23; Gal. 6:7  Sin is not inevitable: 1 Cor.. 10:13; 1 Jn. 2:1

10 As He Thinketh in His Heart  Toward work:  We live in a “the world owes me” society.  Must work: Eph. 4:28  We have responsibilities: 1 Tim. 5:8; 1 Thess. 4:11-12; 2 Thess. 3:10-12  Easy to allow work to make us lose sight and neglect more important things!

11 As He Thinketh in His Heart  Toward self:  Many have a wrong attitude toward self.  Don’t think too highly: Rom. 12:3; 2 Cor. 10:18  Don’t exalt self, but believe in self: Phil. 4:13; 2:12  Must deny self: Lk. 9:23; 1 Cor. 9:24-27

12 As He Thinketh in His Heart  Toward others:  Live in a “me first” society.  Christians must be different: Phil. 2:3-4; 5-8

13 As He Thinketh in His Heart  Toward death:  “The sun is the same in a relative way, but you’re older, shorter of breath and one day closer to death.” Time, Pink Floyd  Inevitable appointment: Heb. 9:27  Part of living, part of God’s plan: 2 Cor. 5:1  Death is not to be feared…if: Phil. 1:21  Only one way to be confident: 2 Tim. 4:6-8

 Remember: Attitude shows what we are on the inside. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7 14