When we feel like the road of life has become a steep slippery mountain path, and the winds of criticism are against us, and a load of burdens is on our back, we will be tempted to get a bad attitude. We have all been there. In our text, Paul was there.

Paul, however, was confident that he would be saved from a bad attitude by following four steps. To maintain a good attitude during trials, we ought to follow the same four steps.

 The first step Paul took to maintain a good attitude was to

Rejoice in the Preaching of Christ, Php 1:12-18

  1. He looked at the positive results of his trial, 1:12-14
    1. Paul was in prison. He could be condemned to death. Instead of asking “Why me?”, Paul counted the blessings that were happening because of his imprisonment.
      1. The gospel was spreading further (v.12).
      2. People in Caesar’s court and many other places had heard that he had been bound for preaching Christ v.13).
      3. Paul’s bondage gave many Christians more boldness to preach the word without fear (v.14).
    2. When we are down, we may not feel like counting blessings, but if we will do it anyway, we will always find things in which to rejoice. Instead of thinking, “poor me”, we should start looking to praise God.
    3. The nursing aides for an 89‑year‑old man planned a surprise party for him. This active and alert retired doctor had his leg amputated two years ago. It had been a struggle to adjust to living his life with only one leg, spending most of his time in a wheelchair. Family, friends and volunteers filled the brightly decorated room. He looked at the group and signaled a sweet six‑year‑old girl, the grandchild of one of his aides, to come over to him. He reached out and put his arm around her. He introduced her and announced, “She is my mascot!” He went on to tell the group assembled that he would never forget the first time she visited. She came in, looked at him and his folded up pants leg in the wheelchair, and in her charming voice asked, “Where is your prosthesis?” He was astounded she knew the word. She showed him her prosthesis and told him her story. When she was three years old, a man broke into her home, killed her 17‑month‑old brother and, with a machete, cut off her leg. He said this young girl taught him not to complain and to be grateful for the 88 years during which he had two legs. – Hedy J. Dalin from A Cup of Chicken Soup for the Soul Copyright 1996 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen & Barry Spilchuk
  2. He chose to rejoice in all that God allowed, 1:15-18
    1. Some were preaching Christ just to cause trouble. Others were preaching Christ out of love. God allowed both, and Paul chose to rejoice in both simply because Christ was being preached.
    2. God allows both good and bad in our lives. When we feel like rebelling, we need to rejoice. When we’d rather pout, we need to choose to praise God.

The second step Paul took to maintain a good attitude was to

Request Prayer Support from Others, Php 1:19

  1. He believed in the power of prayer.
    1. Paul was able to say “for I know.” He knew that this right attitude would lead to his salvation or deliverance from discouragement or perhaps from prison as they prayed for him.
    2. Prayer can do anything that God can do. Often we have not because we ask not (James 4:2).
  2. He was not ashamed to ask for their prayers.
    1. How often do we not ask for prayer because we are embarrassed to do so? We are too proud. Here Paul, the godly veteran missionary, asked his converts to pray for him. If he can ask for prayer, why can’t we?
    2. It is humbling to ask another Christian to pray for you, but it may help your attitude. (James 5:16) “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.“

The third step Paul took to maintain a good attitude was to

Rely on the Supply of the Holy Spirit, Php 1:19

  1. He believed in the supply of the Holy Spirit.
    1. When Paul said “I know”, he was also talking about the ability of the Holy Spirit to supply the needed help. He had asked others to be praying for him, but it was the Holy Spirit who would supply the need.
    2. Jesus promised to give Christians the indwelling Holy Spirit. (John 14:16) “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;“
  2. He rested confidently in the Spirit’s supply.
    1. Has the Holy Spirit ever helped you? Has he empowered you to witness? Has he helped you overcome a temptation? Has he comforted you in distress? If so, recount those times and believe that he can and will supply your needs again.
    2. The Holy Spirit is the author of the Bible. Claim his promises. He said, (Philippians 4:6-7) “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Psalm 55:22) “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.“

The fourth step Paul took to maintain a good attitude was to

Review Personal Goals to Glorify Christ, 1:20

  1. Consider Paul’s goals.
    1. He had an earnest expectation and hope.
    2. His expectation and confidence was both negative and positive.
      1. Negatively, he never wanted to be made ashamed or disgraced by a wrong attitude or action.
      2. UT, positively, he always wanted boldly to cause Christ to be magnified in his body, whether it be by life, or by death. Magnifying Christ (like a magnifying glass) was his first concern! He wanted all men to see Christ more clearly.
  2. We too must set godly goals for trying times.
    1. Make it your goal to magnify Christ in all that you do.
    2. Take your eyes off your discouraging circumstances and focus on your goal to magnify Christ.
      1. Emotions change and deceive. Keep your eyes on your goal, not on your feelings. Review it repeatedly.
      2. Claim Scripture promises like: (1 Corinthians 10:13) “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 15:58) “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.“
    3. Ask God for grace to continue to magnify him.

Conclusion

If you are trudging uphill, against the wind, with a burden on your back, don’t get a bad attitude. Rejoice, Request, Rely, Review. This may not change your circumstances, but it can change your outlook. Give your burden to the Lord. When the Lord gives you peace, keep it by thinking on good things (Php 4:8), and this will enable you to maintain a good attitude.

If you do not know for sure that you are a child of God, it will be difficult for you to maintain a good attitude during trials. I urge you to place your faith in Christ today.

Song: Burdens Are Lifted – 218

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Maintaining a Good Attitude

23 February 2025 AM ~ Philippians 1:12-20