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By Pastor Chuck Swindoll

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The Single Most Important Choice of Your Day

“You are engaged in the pursuit of a calling, but none of these things have much to do about this most important choice you make every day of your life. That is the choice of attitude. Your choice of attitude is, without question, the single most important choice you make every day. Life is made up of about 10 percent of what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it. And often what happens to us is completely out of our control, sometimes shockingly surprising, and on occasion could be completely demoralizing. Nevertheless, how we respond to it is of utmost importance.”

Revisit Your Attitude

“The general public is watching whether we like it or not. And our attitude is what they remember, and unfortunately, what they never forget. Far more than what we may preach or write or sing or say. And some of you have already begun a habit of negativism toward life, already developed a spirit of entitlement as if you’ve got this earned or you deserve certain treatment. You don’t deserve anything but hell, just as I don’t deserve anything but hell. And in the process of growing toward maturity, we need to do a real revisiting of our attitudes.”

Pray with Thanksgiving

“Be anxious for nothing. Stop all that worrying. Stop all the concerns. Stop all the negatives. Stop all of the grumbling and the complaining. And in fact, in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, turn them over to Him who can handle them. Sometimes those heartbreaking events that level us are just perfectly designed to redefine our lives and give us a whole new direction.”

Have a Different Attitude Than the World’s

“Welcome to the ministry. It’s tough. It’s hard. That’s why attitude is what it’s all about. And to meet those who stay positive and enthusiastic in the midst of the toughness, those are the people folks crowd around. Because that’s different than the world in which we’re living.”

Think on These Things

“The climax hits us at verse 8, where it ends, ‘let your mind dwell on these things,’ and he names six of them. Once again, talk about verses for seminary. ‘Whatever is true,’ valid, reliable, and honest. ‘Whatever is honorable,’ the term meaning to revere, giving others that which they deserve and what is worthy of respect. ‘Whatever is right,’ upright, and just. ‘Whatever is pure,’ morally chaste, and undefiled, not smutty, shabby, or soiled. ‘Whatever is lovely,’ amiable, pleasing. The best rendering I’ve read is winsome. ‘Whatever is of good repute.’ It means gracious, admirable. ‘Let your mind dwell on these things.’ The choice is yours. There’s a good list to start with.”

Additional Resources

First, sign up for our Chuck’s Insights on Ministry email where we bring you his best thoughts on preaching, leadership, and ministry each week. By signing up, you’ll instantly receive a one-page checklist with 20 preaching insights from Chuck. See this page’s sidebar.

Second, check out our new Preach The Word articles and video series on YouTube where we’re teaching Chuck’s best insights on this important calling.

Third, listen to Chuck’s messages to those in ministry through our Seminary Chapels page. For decades, he offered students at Dallas Theological Seminary his best thoughts on church leadership and ministry. Now, we have put them at your fingertips. Also, you can find them through this YouTube playlist we created for you.

Fourth, if you don’t own a copy of Chuck’s book on preaching, Saying It Well, we highly recommend you add it to your library. It’s his preaching memoir that is also like a practical preaching manual. You won’t be able to put it down.

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