Our thoughts are extremely powerful and have the amazing ability to determine our outlook on life. Our thoughts can be optimistic or pessimistic in nature. They can bring healing and peace, or confusion and discord. In one of my college Business classes, I learned of an interesting phenomenon referred to as the Pygmalian Effect, or self-fulfilling prophecy. In essence, it means that we believe certain things about ourselves, and the statements we make and beliefs we hold on to actually can alter our actions, thereby coming true. If we say, “I’m probably going to have a lousy day today,” we may inadvertently alter our actions so that such a prediction is fulfilled. It may be an unconscious gesture, yet it seems to become our reality just by our thinking and saying it. Another person might espouse a self-fulfilling prophecy in a positive way by stating, “Today I’m going to have a great day,” and thereby may unconsciously act in ways that will actually make this prediction come true. What I find very interesting is that even the Bible concurs. Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”Could this be the explanation why we are often our own worst enemy? Negative, untrue, self-talk programs us to believe what we think. God tells us how much He loves us, yet we don’t receive His love because we believe we are unlovable. He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to forgive us for our sins and die in our place, yet we find it difficult to believe we are forgiven. He has given us the promised Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts, empowering us to live godly lives while offering us guidance and compassion, yet we fail to draw on His power because we can’t physically see or hear Him. Or, we fail to believe Him altogether because He doesn’t appear to be coming through for us in the way we expected. I think it is safe to say that our biggest obstacle will always be our “thinking.” If not filtered through God’s written Word, our thoughts will often be tainted and untrue. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Only when we actively trust God and seek His truth with a humble and obedient heart can we get His perspective on our situation and wisdom for our journey. “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Shifting gears just a little, let us discuss willpower vs. commitment with regard to our mind, thoughts and actions. Some people equate willpower as the driving force behind their thoughts and actions. It is often referred to as the self-discipline, training and control of oneself, usually for self-improvement. Take weight loss, for example. It takes discipline and an enormous amount of self-control to begin an exercise program, limit caloric intake, and make lifestyle changes. While willpower initially motivates you to action, it alone is not enough to sustain your weight loss. Spiritually speaking, willpower may be the discipline we need to begin reading our Bibles consistently or developing a regular prayer time, but if not backed by a sincere and personal commitment to God, we will find ourselves easily substituting our newly developed spiritual practices for the “busy” activities and demands that come our way.
I like to think of willpower as running a sprint, whereas commitment is like running a marathon. Our willpower will eventually fail us. When the going gets tough, when disappointments come our way, or when we just don’t think we can make it through another day, our willpower will eventually fail us. Often we throw in the towel and give up altogether. Commitment, on the other hand, is in it for the long haul. It does not give up when life gets difficult. It does not surrender under pressure, but it moves steadily forward, even under opposition or great difficulty. It trusts. It believes. It perseveres. Its’ outlook remains positive even under adverse circumstances because it focuses on the promises of God. “Yes, God is for me. He will never leave nor forsake me. He loves me with an everlasting love, no matter how I may feel or what may be happening around me. He will use all of my trials for good.”
Galations 6:7-9 reminds us, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” This principle is not only applied negatively, but also positively. In the psychological sense, it is also referred to as the “law of attraction.” This law states that everything coming into your life is a result of what you have been attracting to your life by your thinking, saying, believing, and feeling. Picture your words and thoughts as magnets, and your emotions and feelings as super magnets. Everything around you, including all the negative thoughts you have complained about, you have attracted. Likewise, when you think positive thoughts, you are attracting similar thoughts to you.
Now, I’m not a “psychological” expert, but I know that I certainly don’t want negative thoughts attracted to me. I have learned over the years that my thoughts and feelings are extremely powerful and have the ability to bring confusion, doubt and despair or love, joy and peace into my life. Frankly, I prefer the latter. Therefore, it is imperative that I stop inward-thinking and make a shift to upward-thinking by refocusing on God. I need to replace my thoughts with His thoughts, and my ways with His ways. The best way I have found to do this is by reading and meditating on God’s Word. It is the ultimate truth that dispels the enemy’s attacks and lies. “God sanctifies us through His truth; His Word is truth” (John 17:17). As Christians, we can have the mind of Christ. God says so in His Word. 1 Corinthians 2:16, “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” This is where true commitment will come in, because it will require that you consistently immerse yourself in God’s Word. As you faithfully do your part, God will impart His mind to you by the power of His Spirit as He speaks and equips you to receive the truth.Remember, that our emotions and feelings are fickle, up and down like a wild roller coaster ride, and therefore, not reliable indicators of the truth. These emotions and feelings can easily feed our thoughts with distorted truth. Their panic-driven sensationalism often invades our deepest core beliefs as they wreak havoc in our souls. We must fight back with the Sword of the Spirit, for it alone is the truth that will set us free. We cannot allow our fickle emotions and unreliable thoughts to run our life. They may make a wonderful caboose, but they certainly make a terrible engine!
