Actions From Attitudes

The Spirit of God works in us to want to do things right and then to be able to do them right (Philippians 2:12,13). He wants to transform us by renewing our minds (Romans 12:1,2). That’s what repentance means (Luke 3:8).

When He speaks to our minds or hearts with a change of attitude, it doesn’t always work out into changed behavior. He may move in us with a desire to stop drinking whiskey or smoking tobacco or wasting 7 hours a day on Facebook. The ability to turn from an addiction is found in Him working in us to be able to accomplish what He gives us as new desires.

The fruit of His Spirit is the power to change our hearts and our actions. John, as referred to above in Luke 3, chastised some of the people who came to him to be baptized. He told them that their behavior should reflect their repentance. Repentance is a changed mind. I thought a certain way, or believed a certain thing was right or valuable. Something happened. I now believe something different. I repented.

Just having a changed mind does not equal a changed life. Actions and steps make up my life. I have to change what I do or don’t do for the repentance to be real-ized in my life.

The strength to accomplish both changes is in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22,23).