Whatever the Mind can Conceive and Believe, it can Achieve

Napoleon Hill authored that quote. I know it's true. This blog comes from the incessant, but, I know, necessary, talk about the coronavirus. From the negative reports, the fears, concerns for the well-being of lives, there is really no place to hide. I loved these words from a pastor: “Wherever we are on earth, we have no rocket ship to escape this outcry or a home so insulated from peril of any kind, but we CAN put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6). God is our “shield”. The plague will not come to our homes; His blood on the doors of our heart shelters us from harm.” (Psalm 91)

My cousin posted this: "At last night's prayer gathering it was mentioned that the word "corona" in coronavirus means crown. This is a quote from a devotional from National Men's Ministries of The General Council of the Assemblies of God: "Health is the crown on a well man's head that only a sick person can see." Standing on the promise of Jeremiah 33:6: "Look, I will bring health and healing. I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security."

There is pure power in our thoughts. What we think about long enough, will actually come to pass – be it a fear of something or a dream of conquering and winning at something. But why is that? How is that the mere concept of something, held in the forefront of our minds, can be brought to fruition through persistent thinking about it over time? God always has an answer for questions like this.

I remember all the talk about polio and tuberculosis when I was a young child. I didn’t grasp what it was all about, but it sounded scary based on the concern in my mom and dad’s voices when I heard them talking about it and how those awful diseases had attacked some of their friends. I could tell that worry and concern had entered into my little corner of the world.

The fact is illness and disease has always been a part of our world. Blame that on the enemy of our souls who comes to “kill, steal and destroy”. Think about the awful plague of leprosy in the Bible that cruelly destoryed people’s lives and families and excommunicated them from their homes and towns. But, Jesus. All of those diseases then, and now, didn’t and don’t phase God. John 10:10 says “The thief comes to kill, steal and destroy, but I (Jesus) came to give you abundant life.” Doesn’t that bring comfort – especially when we conceive it, believe it, and achieve that abundant life?

If we are living in fear about the flu, the coronavirus, cancer, the common cold, heart failure, a pimple or acne, then we better, sooner than later, start getting our thinking right. Go back to that beginning thought “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” I hear people saying all the time “I think I’m catching a cold.” But, when we talk that talk, we aren’t aligning ourselves with the truth of God's Word. "For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.( 2 Timothy 1:7). God says: “Him I will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Me!” (Isaiah 26:3). Proverbs 23:7 “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” There is a remedy for going rogue in our thinking. The Bible makes it clear that our thinking and our hearts are linked together. What we think, affects our heart, soul and body. Likewise, the condition of our heart, soul and body affects our thinking.

The coronavirus is showing us what we should have known all along: we are mortals in desperate need of God. We need God’s protection in the present and His saving grace for eternity. One way God wants to redeem this pandemic is by using it to turn us to Himself. We need to pray for the sick – those around the world and even here in the U.S. This unprecedented threat is an unprecedented opportunity for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let’s point others to Jesus – the Great Healer Who changes not. “He is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). I am one of those who has been healed by His miracle-working power. I’m proof positive that there is nothing to fear because Jesus is still here!

Starting the Day on the Right Track

"Think and Grow Rich" was one my husband's favorites. Actually, my husband was an unrelenting reader and proponent of motivational and inspiring books, sources and individuals. We raised our kids on the likes of this book, as well as Zig Ziglar's books, the Bible and many other noteworthy sources of positivity. I'm quite sure that, even of itself, is one of the reasons our two children turned out to be great sources of positivity and inspiration. Their never-give-up attitudes and being strong individuals of faith and tenacity has taken them far in the business world and in their personal lives.

So, I think you can see why this Nana loves visiting my kids in Texas -- now both sets living there -- in Frisco and Austin. On Thursday, just before I left Frisco for home, I was able to be a part of that morning's devotion and prayer time with them. Maybe it's a perk of being home-schooled that they are afforded the opportunity to start their day with an hour of solid training in those things that matter most. They have interactive readings and discussions. On that morning, we heard -- of all the success stories achieved by Napoleon Hill, none was more challenging nor more gratifying than teaching his son Blair, born without ears, to have 100% hearing. He had a never-quit attitude and trust in God. What a testimony of faith! Perhaps you need this example of faith to stir you today. You can read about it here: https://www.facebook.com/notes/jasjit-singh/no-ears-how-napoleon-hill-helped-his-son-blair-to-hear/322081944661711/

This Wallace Family is hit-the-ground-running, always on-the-go, turbo-charged, on mission and on target to be the best they can be in work, play and determined world changers. Their days are jammed full and once they leave that table....they are like other families -- full of busy schedules and lives. But their priorities are what matter most. They're making ginormous investments of time into their personal lives each day, at the start of that day.

I think God put it this way....."Seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and ALL these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33. What if we all had a plan of seeking our CEO, Father God, each morning about this day? What if we all had a determined purpose to DOWNLOAD His wisdom, His character and His attributes into our day, at the beginning of each day? Imagine how our day just might run smoother, our relationships, kinder, our energies, higher, and our attitudes, sweeter, once we've had a little one-on-one with THE ONE who we desire to be like the most. I'm thinking that on-purpose "abiding in the vine" just might cause OUR FRUIT to be tasty, salty, and light -- all those qualities that will even draw others to the VINE.