Cinderella dressed her step sisters for the ball. She followed them into the court yard and watched them be whirled away until the carriage disappeared through the trees. Then Cinderella went back to her usual seat in the chimney corner and sat down and cried. Suddenly she heard a voice say, “What is the matter, my poor child?” She lifted her tear stained face and to her astonishment saw a mystical lady with a long ebony wand. “Did nobody ever tell you that you had a fairy godmother?” the lady asked. Cinderella thought for a moment and then told her, “When I was a tiny child…someone did, but I thought you had forgotten me.”

How often have our thoughts kept us from receiving what “belongs” to us? How often have our thoughts kept us living beneath our royal privilege? How often have our thoughts kept us from doing what we can for the kingdom of Christ?

One of the most popular and famous children’s books of all time is “The Little Engine that Could.” It’s not a fairy tale, nor a story about princesses; but one that could have great impact on our lives. The story has sold millions of copies and appeared in numerous editions since its first printing in 1930. Who hasn’t heard of the little engine with a big heart? The origin of the popular story can actually be traced back to a Sunday School publication, printed in 1906. If you recall, the story is about a little railroad engine that was employed to pull a few cars on and off the switches. One morning, a long train of freight cars asked a number of big, tough engines designed for hard work to take it over a hill. None of the big engines were inclined to help. One by one they all offered excuses why they couldn’t, or actually, wouldn’t help the long train of freight cars. When the train had exhausted all other options, in desperation it asked the little switch engine who immediately agreed to try. The little engine puffed, “I think I can, I think I can” all the way up the hill. When it reached the top and began its descent, the little engine congratulated itself, “I thought I could, I thought I could.”

You probably remember this childhood story, but have you applied its lesson concerning the power of thought to your own thought life? If you think you can’t do something, you are probably right, for “I can’t” has never accomplished anything. On the other hand, if you think you can, and you are unwavering in your determination, you will eventually be able to declare with the little engine, “I knew I could.”

Practical Help for the Real World

It’s a very basic concept; one simple enough to illustrate in a children’s book. Your personal growth is determined by your thinking patterns. You will be no better or worse than the thoughts that you entertain. YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK! Who you are emotionally, socially, intellectually and even physically can never transcend your level of thinking. Your thought patterns create the ceiling beyond, which you cannot aspire. It defines who you are. “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Prov. 23:7 NKJV

The activity of your mind flows like a stream through your consciousness. Psychologists call this the “stream of thought.” Thoughts pass briefly through a narrow window of awareness before streaming beyond consciousness to influence every part of your being. The predominant thoughts passing through this window of awareness are the basis for your emotions and the motivation behind your behavior. They determine your spirituality, forge your character, shape your attitudes and believe it or not, influence your immune system. They affect whether you move toward:

- health or disease,
- victory or defeat,
- accomplishment or failure.

They determine whether you are an essentially happy person or sad. There are now scientific studies that prove your thoughts influence everything from your emotions to your physical healing. Science and psychology are just beginning to confirm what God said thousands of years ago.

Considering the potential influence of our thoughts, it’s amazing we’re not more aware of their flow. Although readily available, most people don’t intentionally listen to them. They go through their day with uncensored mental programming playing in the background of their minds; clueless why they feel or act the way they do. A lot of unhappy people complain about feeling miserable, ignorant of the power they possess to change those feelings through healthier thinking.

If you want to change how you feel or behave it’s a “no brainer.” First monitor and then modify how you think. This attention needs to be intentional and specific. Respond to life’s challenges first with your mind and then your heart? Constructive and helpful thoughts will eventually cause you to feel hopeful and encouraged. But if your thought processes take a downward turn towards worry, you will feel anxious and troubled.

What have you been thinking about today?

The truth is without careful monitoring your thoughts will always stray into dangerous territory. That’s why Paul encouraged you and the Philippian church to focus our thinking.

“And now, brothers, as I close this letter let me say this one more thing: Fix your thought on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.” Phil. 4:8, (TLB)

Posted under Heart to Heart