Additude is where the battle is won

Yesterday as we were driving away from church my oldest and youngest who both volunteer in the children's ministry were talking about what had gone on that day.  Victoria was talking about having written something up on the board for the kids to see.

"Yes, but you misspelled attitude," Jacob said.

"I spelled it the way it was on the paper," Victoria told him. Ethan quickly shouted out from the back seat how it was properly spelled. 

"How did she spell it?" I asked.

"a-D-D-i-t-u-d-e," Jacob told me.  And it immediately got me thinking.

How many times have we heard the saying, "Attitude is half the battle"? I know I've heard it and as a mom said it more times than I can count.  But I'm a word girl, and the term "Add-itude" really appeals to me.  It immediately made me think of a particular scripture from the third chapter of Colossians:

"God's chosen people, clothe yourselves in compassion, kindness,

humility, gentleness and patience."

Colossians 3:12

"Clothe yourselves," the verse says.  It made me think about the different times in scripture when God tells us to "put on" or "clothe" ourselves with different things.  Humility, God's armor, a new self, the armor of light, love, kindness, compassion... the list is worth researching for yourself.

I know I have given myself a pass for some of these attributes, and attitudes in the past, particularly those that fall into the list of "fruits of the Spirit." But as I was thinking about my daughter's "mis"-spelling, it occurs to me, these are things that we can choose. Is it easier when we are abiding in Christ? Without question, and in reality perhaps even impossible without Him, but still there is no excuse in not ADDing on these attitudes in our daily lives.

I read something recently about exactly what it means to be "filled with the Holy Spirit."  It's a phrase that can have a wide definition between the conservative and charismatic, but the reading I did explained it very well.  All of us who are followers of Jesus Christ have the Holy Spirit living inside of us.  The Book of Ephesians tells us it's how God sort of "seals the deal" when we accept Christ as our Savior, our day of redemption.  According to this one man's explanation the level of our "filling" of the Holy Spirit is directly proportioned to the level we are surrendered to Him.  The more surrendered the more "full" we are.  I may not being explaining it well, but I think it's accurate to say that the more we submit the more He leads the way. (But I digress.)

Back to the point of ADDitudes, these things that God has commanded we put on and clothe ourselves in - if He has directed it, it MUST be possible.  We can choose what we wear, and we can choose to walk in obedience and put on these things which ought to mark us as believers. 

I don't think it's simple or easy, but I do know it must be possible because God has told us to do it.  Everything is easier with His help, and if He has asked us to do it, surely it is His will to help us do so. 

Compassion

Kindness

Humility

Gentleness

Patience

I learned Colossians 3:12 as a scripture song when my oldest was just a little boy, and if I quoted it to you uou might find me saying it in a sing-songy way because it's committed to my memory that way.  But as I opened the scriptures and read the verse in its context, it's there in verse 14 that I find the most important ADDitude of all:

"And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

Colossians 3:14

So how about it?  Will you choose (with God's help through the Holy Spirit) to clothe yourself today?  To "put on" these ADDitudes?  Because after all, we are called to be Christ's ambassadors here on earth, therefore...

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus..."

Philippians 2:5

Read on for yourself, do a little investigating, see about the choice you have to obey... and then do it. I'm sure it will be great for your attitude... no, make that ADDitude.