"A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, for his very attitude blinds and deafens him to it. But knowledge comes easily to he who is teachable and understands." Proverbs 14:6
An attitude is a mental position regarding a fact or state. It is a feeling or emotion toward someone or something. Attitudes can be positive and helpful or negative and hostile. When an attitude is negative, it can be cold, cocky, defiant, or arrogant.
The word "attitude" comes from the Latin aptitudinem, from which we also draw the word "aptitude."
Aptitude is an inclination or tendency, a natural ability or talent. It indicates potential, a capacity for learning, or general suitability.
The suffix -tude indicates a state, condition, or quality.
A positive attitude leads to good judgment, good decisions, and good behaviors.
A bad attitude leads to poor judgment, poor decisions, and poor behavior.
Attitudes can blind us and make us oblivious to the answers right in front of us. They distort our perceptions and our realities. Bad attitudes can destroy our aptitude: our potential to live life well. Bad attitudes will not lead us to solutions; they will only lead us to bad judgment, bad behavior, and bad consequences.
But having a bad attitude doesn't make you a bad person; it makes you human. Everyone has a bad attitude sometimes. When things don't go our way, it can be hard to stay positive. Sometimes I find myself entertaining a bad attitude for silly reasons, like my package arriving late or my dinner order being incorrect! But when I catch myself thinking negative thoughts, I've learned to ask myself two important questions:
"Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other.Acton what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like." James 1:22-24 MSG.
"But whoever does not have [godliness, mutual affection, and love] is nearsighted and blind,forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins." 2 Peter 1:9 NIV
"Then he added, 'Now you should go and study the meaning of the verse: I want you to show mercy, not just offer me a sacrifice. For I have come to invite the outcasts of society and sinners, not those who think they are already on the right path.'" Matthew 9:12 TPT
"If you’re able to understand this, then you need to respond.” Matthew 13:8 TPT
"For everyone who listens with an open heart will receive progressively more revelation until he has more than enough. But those who don’t listen with an open, teachable heart, even the understanding that they think they have will be taken from them." Matthew 13:12 TPT
“The seed sown on gravel represents the person who gladly hears the kingdom message, but his experience remains shallow." Matthew 13:20 TPT (no spiritual roots because they are not interested - no hunger or thirst for God.)