Romans 8:11-14

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as he raised Christ from the dead, he will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living within you. So, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you keep on following it, you will perish. But if through the power of the Holy Spirit you turn from it and its evil deeds, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

Choosing the attitude and actions of Christ is not choosing to make yourself holy and righteous and loving. It is choosing to believe that He and His Spirit can take over and transform you into His likeness by His power, not yours. It’s a daily surrender, not a daily striving. A daily letting go. Not a daily pulling up the bootstraps.

It is true, sometimes (most of the time, actually) we have to “pull up our bootstraps” to surrender our selfishness. Sometimes it feels like, because the first step is up to us, all of the righteous steps after that are ours too. But if you pay attention, when you take the first step of faith, choosing to believe His power will come, you will see it is He and His Spirit that leads your mind and your heart and your spirit. After you decide to believe, vulnerable to the knowledge of your weaknesses but expectant in the knowledge of your Father’s strength, Then He does take over and it is HIS energy and power…the wind that moves your raised and vulnerable sails.