In the book of Romans 12:2 we read, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Someone once said that the greatest discovery of our generation is that we can alter our lives by altering our attitudes. Think about that! It's your thought life, not your circumstances, that determines your happiness.

We keep thinking that we'll be happy if only a certain thing happens. For instance, some mothers say, "When Johnny gets out of elementary school, I'll be happy." And they are for a while. Next, "When Johnny graduates from high school I'll be happy." And they are, at least for the summer.

Then Johnny's graduation brings the same promise; so does his marriage; so does the birth of her first grandchild. But the problem is, she hasn't learned how to be happy between "happenings." If your happiness is always controlled by something outside of yourself, you'll always be a hostage to other people, places and things.

That's not God's plan for you.

David said, "I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.(Ps. 34:1) If David chose the right attitude and you've got to choose it too, you've also got to maintain it. That's the hard part. It's like the old farmer said, "The hardest thing about milking cows is - they never stay milked!" And it's the same with attitudes; they don't stay changed, you've got to work on them everyday: it's called "renewing your mind."

The only way to do it is to stay in the Word of God and stay in touch with your heavenly Father.

Have you been doing that lately?