For we walk by faith, not by sight. — 2 Corinthians 5:7
This week I’m pleased to share with you the second, third and fourth principles. The topic this week will cover 1) faith, 2) organized planning and 3) auto-suggestion [which is when we reprogram our thinking].
Though you’ve read my reflections on the subject of faith often in this column, the Book of James 2:14 tells us “faith without works is dead.” This is where these additional principles will come in handy. You may have faith, but you must make plans, and they need to be organized; and your mindset must be where it needs to be. Your faith will not allow you to move forward if you cannot see your way clear, you really don’t believe you can do this, which is where the principle of auto-suggestion comes in handy.
Let’s talk about auto-suggestion. This is like a Scripture in the Bible which tells us life and death are in the power of the tongue. Here is where you must speak about the life of your project as if it is already done. You must tell yourself over and over again throughout the day for weeks and maybe months until this new thought begins to feel like you can actually get this thing done.
It helped me with my thinking process, and it will help you too. During the 20 years of research compiled by Napoleon Hill as he traveled across America interviewing successful leaders, he couldn’t emphasize enough the need to have faith.
In his book, he reminds us of how he had absolute faith that his own son, born without ears, would indeed hear someday, and though it was many years later, it worked. Hill’s son did hear, even though he was born without any ears.
The Heavenly Father has said in his word “My peace I give you.” When you worry about tomorrow you’re not operating in faith, and you don’t have peace.
All we have, ladies and gentlemen, is one day at a time. What we do today will shape our tomorrow. Do you want more of the same? Then keep doing what you’ve always done, and you will keep getting what you’ve always gotten. It’s called insanity.
Those without faith are very much like the mice in the story “Who Moved My Cheese.” Pick up a copy and read it several times. You might see yourself.
When one mouse realized all of his cheese was gone, he went into shock, disbelief, sadness. He cried, pouted, had temper tantrums, determined to find out (as an example) why he got laid off from his job. Do you hem and haw, feel paralyzed, spend much too much time trying to understand what happened to you? Do you say, why me? Or you might say, “But I was doing so well, now this!”
Other mice in “Who Moved My Cheese” began to run really quickly when they made the discovery that all of the cheese was gone. They were determined to find a new income source, maybe multiple streams of income. That’s the way the quick-thinking mice did in this story. They did not waste one moment. Very quickly, they got busy and made attempts to find their way. They looked in the dark, they went up and down alleyways unfamiliar! It worked for them.
First, they found a small amount of cheese, just enough to keep them alive and working. They continued to work, and more cheese was found. Until one day, these busy and active mice doubled their cheese supply, or it may be income to you.
In the Bible, we have many examples of women and men of faith, men and women who were willing to give their lives for the faith they had in God. If you look around, you will see many men and women today who are walking by faith and not by sight.
In the Book of Job, the Scripture tells us Job’s story of patience and faith. Though he was a very wealthy man, he lost everything he had. He lost thousands of cattle, he lost land; he lost his health, even until most of the flesh had fallen from his bones. In fact, his wife said, “Why don’t you curse God and die?”
Of course, Job said “Naked I come into the world and naked shall I return. All the days of my appointed time, will I wait until my change comes.”
In the end, God rewarded Job for keeping his faith no matter what happened. He got his health back, and his wealth doubled. What a mighty God we serve.
Hebrews 11:1 states “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and it is the evidence of things not seen.” Believing, even when you see absolutely no signs! Increase your faith, put your plans in place, then talk to yourself, until your dream begins to feel like a reality.
Lyndia Grant is a speaker/writer living in the D.C. area. Her radio show, “Think on These Things,” airs Fridays at 6 p.m. on 1340 AM (WYCB), a Radio One station. To reach Grant, visit her website, www.lyndiagrant.com, email lyndiagrantshowdc@gmail.com or call 240-602-6295. Follow her on X @LyndiaGrant and on Facebook.
