It’s February!!!! Happy new month wonderful people. We pray you marvelous helps all through the new month and beyond. Well, today we’re super excited to kick-off our guest review sessions.  It’s still part of our Review Thursday and all you need do is mail us with a review of a book, song, event or anything impactful you think others could learn from. Let’s get to today’s business.

This classic book published in 1903 has consistently been one of the most recommended self-help books of the 20th century. The aim of the book is to let man know that, “they themselves are makers of themselves.”

While the book is very in-depth and virtually all its paragraphs very insightful, I would be focusing on some quotes that ‘jumped’ at me from reading the book. I like to believe the author got the inspiration for the book title from Proverbs 23:7 (For as he thinketh in his heart , so is he…) which is not necessarily hard to believe since he was a Christian after all.

Here they are:

  • “The ‘divinity that shapes our ends’ is in ourselves; it is our very self”

The author says here that man has the capacity to determine his future and events that happen to him.  It’s not in the hands of ‘universalism’ (like some people erroneously say) but up to us. We certainly have the ability to control what happens to us by controlling what happens in us (our thoughts).

Once we get our thoughts in order concerning every aspect of our lives, things would definitely fall into place. It still amazes me how it works but it’s been proven over and again.

  • “Every circumstance of man is at the mercy of his thoughts”

Ever wondered how some things happen to you and then you look back and realize that you once nurtured the thought. Yes! You literally planted it, watered it and saw it grow in your mind until it came to fruition. That’s the effect of negative thoughts.

Our direst circumstances are a product of our thoughts (mostly negative). Good thing we have control over them. Meaning we can always turn those circumstances around in our favour. We really can.

  • “There is a strong interconnectedness between our prayers and thoughts”

Little wonder Jesus himself said that when we ask God for anything (in prayer), we should believe we have received them and they shall be ours.

Our thoughts are as loud before God as our words. Apostle Paul said, “To Him who is able to do exceedingly above what we ask or think ….” It goes to say while praying, our hearts must be actively involved believing God is listening and granting our requests.

  • “A man can only rise, conquer and achieve by lifting up his thoughts”

We can’t rise any higher than the things we think. That would be sheer luck which is a rarity. Now, we really don’t want to live on luck as much as we want live on precision and accuracy. That is, determining the things that would be and wouldn’t be and not waiting for ‘mother nature’ to shine the sun in our direction.

Man has the responsibility of lifting his thoughts regardless of his circumstance(s) if he must go any higher in life. It remains an individual responsibility that can be transferred to no other.

  • “Your Vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil.”

Our visions must not remain in our thoughts alone, they must be translated to actions else we are only daydreaming.  While vision refers to picture of the future in our mind, Ideal refers to the conscious action we take to ensure the vision comes to fruition. (The rhymes were unintended mind you).

We are talking about our thoughts quite alright but they must of necessity be turned to action so we don’t deceive ourselves. Our thoughts count but our actions count more.

Conclusion

The best way to work on our thoughts is by yielding to the Word of God (written or spoken). God’s word has the ability to transform our thought pattern, purging us of repugnant thoughts and filling us with peaceful and joyful ones. A favourite scripture of mine says, “Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think…” Romans 12:2 (NLT).

God is very much interested in our transforming our ‘thinking’; why not yield to his Word today?

Also remember to read the book, it should be available in any good bookstore around you. Mind you, there are various editions of the book. So please don’t be on the look out for the exact cover you see here, rather look out for the title.  You’ll be glad you did.

Best,

Makanjuola Joshua.