Attitudes, positive to God

Scripture identifies a range of positive attitudes towards God, which believers are encouraged to adopt.

Trust

Proverbs 3:5 See also Psalm 20:7, Psalm 25:1–2, Psalm 40:4, Psalm 56:11; John 14:1; Romans 15:13

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;

Faith

Matthew 8:10 parallel Luke 7:9 See also Matthew 9:2 parallels Mark 2:5, Luke 5:20; Hebrews 11:1–39

When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those following Him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.

Hope

Job 13:15 See also Psalm 25:5; Isaiah 40:31; Micah 7:7; Romans 4:18

Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.

Love

Deuteronomy 6:5 See also Deuteronomy 30:6; Psalm 18:1, Psalm 116:1; John 21:15–17

And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Holiness

Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15–16 See also Deuteronomy 7:6, Deuteronomy 14:1–2; Romans 12:1–2; 1 Corinthians 5:7–8; Colossians 3:2

Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Awesome respect

Ecclesiastes 12:13 See also Deuteronomy 10:12–13; Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 9:10; Jeremiah 5:22; Acts 9:31; Revelation 14:7

When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.

Repentance

2 Corinthians 7:10 See also Job 42:6; Ezekiel 14:6; Acts 2:38, Acts 17:30

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Humility

Isaiah 66:2 See also Ezra 8:21; James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6

Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.

Self-denial

Matthew 16:24 parallels Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23

Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

Submission

James 4:7 See also Job 22:21; Romans 8:7, Romans 10:3

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Thankfulness

1 Thessalonians 5:18 See also 1 Chronicles 16:34; Psalm 35:18, Psalm 100:4; Matthew 14:19; Ephesians 5:20; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 2:7

Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Praise

Hebrews 13:15 See also Ezra 3:11; Psalm 148:1–5, Psalm 150:1–6; Isaiah 42:10, Isaiah 61:3; Acts 2:46–47; James 5:13

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name.

Prayerfulness

James 5:13 See also Matthew 14:23, Matthew 26:41; Romans 8:26; 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Is any one of you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.

Reverence

Psalm 5:7 See also Nehemiah 5:15; Malachi 2:5, Malachi 4:2; Ephesians 5:21; Hebrews 12:28; 1 Peter 3:1–2

But I will enter Your house by the abundance of Your loving devotion; in reverence I will bow down toward Your holy temple.

Watchfulness

Colossians 4:2 See also Luke 12:37–38; 1 Thessalonians 5:6–8; 1 Peter 5:8

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,