Life is hard. Yes, bad things happen, and most of the time we have little control over unwanted calamities.

Today, on Insight for Living, Chuck Swindall reminds us that while we can't control our external battles, we can control

the internal ones. We're not victims, but victors. Chuck draws his confidence from Paul's

letter to the Philippians. And what you're about to hear today and again tomorrow are among the most

memorable programs ever presented on Insight for Living.

Chuck titled this classic study, Strengthening Your Grip on Attitudes.

As we make our way through life, there are several attitudes I have discovered that can demoralize us, not to mention those who have to be around us. I'm talking about the attitudes of uselessness,

self-pity, and fear. When we tell ourselves we're useless, it causes us to die actually before we die.

It also makes us really hard to be around, doesn't it?

Do you know someone like that?

Also, the attitude of self-pity carries with it the false notion that nobody cares for you anymore.

It's what I call the woe is me mentality.

Goes something like this. Nobody cares about me anymore. Why should I bother to stay alive?

Woe is me. Hey, nobody likes being around a person like that. And how about fear? Oh, and that's an attitude that often occurs as we grow older.

It's the notion that we need to be very careful and avoid all dangers and every single risk.

Truth be told, a fearful attitude like that can quickly lead to a suspicious, paranoid spirit.

Fear is a thief that steals our joy and robs us of our peace.

I believe it is one of the most devastating of all emotions.

If we're afraid, chances are good will draw our blinds and we'll double lock all our doors and we'll also miss out most of the fun in life. So let's not go there.

What is God's alternative to these and other attitudes? It's an attitude of enthusiasm. I love the approach the Apostle Paul wrote about

in the letter to the Philippians, first in chapter two and then again in chapter four. Listen as I'll read

the first five verses of chapter two and then verse 14 of that chapter.

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