By Thurman Hayes

Leadership expert John Maxwell is famous for saying, “Your attitude determines your altitude.”

There is much wisdom in that statement. It holds true on any team, whether that team is a family, an athletic team, a team at work, or a circle of friends.

The great thing about attitude is that we can control it. It is not determined by anything or anyone outside of us. It enables us to be proactive rather than reactive.

There are three attitudes that can massively impact any team that you are a part of, beginning with your family, but moving out in concentric circles to your friends, work associates, or any other group you belong to.

Principle #1 — A positive spirit

If you are a Christian, you have every reason to be positive. Jesus has risen from the dead, after dying for your sins. Therefore, you are forgiven and adopted as a son or daughter of the King. The Sovereign One who has all authority in heaven and on earth loves you with a perfect, everlasting love. Your future inheritance is certain and sure, and it won’t be long before glory.

Of course, the times when a positive spirit gets tested are the times that prove whether you really trust the Lord. But if you know him, you know he always proves himself faithful. He will do so in whatever trial you are going through. More than that, he is causing all things to work together for his glory and our good. Trust him, and you will be able to stay positive through it all.

Principle #2 — A Servant’s Heart

Jesus said that even he came “not to be served but to serve.” You’ve heard the expression, “There is no ‘I’ in the word TEAM.” No turf wars, no territorial, it’s-all-about-me silliness.

When we are self-absorbed, we are about our own self-worth and self-promotion. Again, if we are Christians, this is the opposite of what we want to be about. We want to be about God’s glory, not our own. “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory” (Psalm 115:1).

In multiple passages the Bible says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Do we really want to incur the opposition of God? Yikes!

Principle #3 — A Loyal Spirit

In the context of a team, this means we can be counted on not to bail. We will be faithful to our teammates, especially during the tough times.

We will deal with conflict by talking with our teammates, not going around and talking about them. We will assume the best of our teammates, not the worst.

This kind of faithfulness comes from an understanding of the faithfulness of God. Proverbs 18:24 says, “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Seek those kinds of friends. Ask God for those kinds of friends. Most of all, allow God to be that kind of a friend to you. He longs to be that for you. “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” says the Lord (Hebrews 13:5).

You can rely on him. That begins by relying completely on the finished work of Christ for your salvation. Have you done that? Why not now?

Dr. Thurman R. Hayes Jr. is senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Suffolk. Follow him on Twitter at @ThurmanHayesJr.