PAUL’S ATTITUDE DETERMINED HIS ALTITUDE
Philippians 1:12-18
A personal sense of purpose works in two ways. First, we work on it. Then, it works on us. Once Paul had determined his life mission, that purpose daily improved his attitude. In prisons, shipwrecks, beatings, through trials and debates, Paul kept on smiling because of his strong sense of purpose. He understood that leaders can either surrender to their circumstances, or they can surrender to a cause that is so great, their circumstances won’t matter. When we surrender to our circumstances, we have good days and bad days. We are at the mercy of what happens to us. When we surrender to a cause or purpose, we have good days wherever we go; the purpose never dies. Paul’s attitude helped his purpose go forward, then his purpose helped his attitude go forward! His attitude helped him conclude that it didn’t matter what happened to him or others—so long as the mission continued.