Here in the South, it stays pretty warm almost year round. I can’t think of one indoor place in Houston that doesn’t have air-conditioning. I know up in the North it’s a different story, but around here, we are thankful for modern conveniences to help keep us cool! The thing about running the air-conditioner so much is that you have to remember to change the air filter regularly, otherwise, it won’t be long before the air flow is restricted, the unit overworked, and eventually, it will burn out. There are lots of air-conditioning repair companies who stay quite busy during the summer months!

I find that our attitude is a lot like that air filter. When you have a fresh, new attitude, it filters out the “dust” of the world and protects your inner workings. In the same way that you regularly check your air filter, you have to regularly check your attitude and make sure it’s not getting clogged up with negativity or restricting the flow of God’s blessing. Too often, people go through life allowing their circumstances to dictate their attitudes not realizing that attitude is a choice.

During those seasons of life when it feels like a heat wave of difficulty is coming against you, you have to be especially careful to keep your attitude fresh and change it as often as you need to. If you allow negative thinking into your life, it will weigh you down and cause you to lose your joy and enthusiasm. Before long, you stop appreciating your friends and family, or you start believing your boss has something against you. Negative thinking makes the small stuff seem so much bigger and causes you to live in constant worry and frustration. If that’s how you feel today, take heart—your life can be different! You can have a different outlook on life by making a simple choice to trust in Almighty God. Simply step out in faith and say a prayer like this any time you need to: “Father God, today I cast my cares on You. I choose to put my trust and hope in You. Right now, I change my attitude, I change my thoughts, and I change my focus and set my heart and mind on You in Jesus’ name. Amen!”

“Be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude]” (Ephesians 4:23, AMP).