Keep On Believing

It has been said that a man is what he eats. Someone else said that a man is what he reads. Still another has said that a man is what he thinks. The proverbial writer said, "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." What the editor is saying is that you are not only what you consume physically or what you conceptualize or internalize mentally, but you are also and foremost, what you believe in your heart.

If you believe you can, then you can. If you believe you cannot, than you cannot. Everything we do from the simplest acts to the most complex tasks require we believe in ourselves and in our ability to perform. You may not have given it much thought, but before you can get out of bed, or lift a fork to your mouth or speak a word; before you can memorize a poem or drive a car or learn how to use the internet; before you can quit drinking or overeating or any other habit ? you must first believe that you can and have enough faith to believe in God and in the power of Jesus to help you through. We are what we believe.

You probably recall the story of the white man who sold ice in the black community. A young black man observed what the white man was doing and decided that he could go into business and do the same thing. He produced a quality product at a lower cost and even gave better service. Soon all the black folks were buying their ice from him ? except one old lady. Try as he might, he just could not persuade the old lady to buy his ice. Finally, in exasperation, he asked her why she refused to give him her business. And she responded, "Son, it has nothing to do with you personally, but I believe the white man's ice is just a little bit better than yours." As long as we believe that other's ice is colder we will never achieve our goals.

What we must realize is that there is power in belief and powerlessness in disbelief. Remember when Jesus went home to Nazareth? He did not perform any mighty acts there as He had in other towns. It wasn't because the power that had worked elsewhere would not work there; it was not because the people there did not need the healing power of Christ and it was not because Jesus doubted His own abilities. It was because of the people's disbelief.

Abraham was a great man because he had a great faith. Scripture informs us that Abraham believed God. He did not kill any giants like David; he did not write any proverbs as Solomon did, he did not confront any pharaohs or dispense any laws as Moses did, he was not a learned scribe as Ezra or a great builder Like Nehemiah, but Abraham believed God. He did not have Samson's strength or Mordecai's political insight; he did not command the sun to stand still as Joshua did or defeat any armies as Gideon did. Abraham did not walk through the fire as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; he did not spend any time in a lion's den as Daniel did, but Abraham believed God. He did not dream any dreams like Joseph, see any visions like Ezekiel and he did not proclaim the Messiah's coming as did Isaiah or call forth fire from heaven as Elijah did. Abraham just believed God.

If you are wondering how you can keep on believing when everything is turning against you. If you are wondering how you can go on when you can barely make ends meet. If you are wondering how you can hold your head up when your world is falling apart.

I recommend you that you keep on believing in spite of your circumstances. Keep on believing in spite what people say or do. Keep on believing even when like Abraham, you do not know what is happening or why it is happening. God always has another ram in the bush for those who exercise faith in Him; those who love Him enough to believe Him in spite of everything and through it all.

I am reminded of the story of a ship that was caught in a storm so fierce the passengers had to put on life jackets. One of the passengers scurrying around found a little boy sitting by himself and playing with a toy truck. He seemed totally oblivious of all that was going on around him. The concerned passenger ran up to him and said, "Son, you must put on your life jacket, we are in a terrible storm." The little boy looked up at the passenger and said, "Thank you sir, but I'm not worried because my daddy is the captain of the ship."

Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. http://www.clergyservices4u.org. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, will be available in July.

---

Why Not Reinvent The Wheel?

"Why go and reinvent the wheel?" It's a question that's... Read More

I Dont Like This

You always do this wrong, how many times would I... Read More

Look To Trees To Help You Keep Balanced And Focused While Achieving Your Dreams

Do you remember looking up through the branches of a... Read More

Adages for the New Age

The old familiar adages just don't do it for me... Read More

Night of the Living Dead

For many people, life has become as dull and despairing... Read More

Whats Your Reason For Waiting?

The fever had been high late into the night, but... Read More

Why My Wife Is My Hero

My name is Chas Brothers. Many of you know me... Read More

Making the Most of Your Peak and Off-peak Times

What is the most essential part of your business? You... Read More

In Tall Grass

My best friend, Ryan, told me last night he got... Read More

Persistency - Element In Reality

One of the keys to being successful in anything you... Read More

Today is Yesterdays Tomorrow

The problem with waiting until tomorrow is that when it... Read More

Contemptable Temptation

Let's look at the lesson we should all pay attention... Read More

Dreams Keep Us Going

The eyes are the portals of the inner self; the... Read More

To Raise Your Frequency, Just Turn on the Joy!

The feeling response to being filled up with Love from... Read More

The Priceless Gift of a Knee-High Smile

She was just over knee-high standing next to me in... Read More

Motivational Posters - A Source Of Inspiration?

What Inspires You? What motivates you to get up in... Read More

Fulfilling Your Dreams: The Magic Of Starting

Fulfilling your dreams will remain a mirage if you simply... Read More

The Power of Inner SELF

I am sharing one of the great insights.The fear that... Read More

The Women At The Cross (Reflections On The Death And Resurrection Of Jesus)

The women at the cross. Have you ever thought about... Read More

Energy Work Basics Part 2: What Lifts Your Spirit?

Remember, everything is made of energy. Each of us has... Read More

Brilliant Autumn: Reaping a Bounteous Harvest

"But if in your thought you must measure time into... Read More

A Childs Plight

In the streets of Bogotá, a child - named Simon*... Read More

In the Eyes of a Child

It was way past 10:00 pm when I came home... Read More

Starting A New Disaster Relief Program

I believe that it is an amazing time in our... Read More

Five Minutes Before the Miracle

Even though this article was next on my idea list,... Read More

Personal Philosophy is Like The Set of The Sail

We have all experienced the blowing winds of disappointment, despair... Read More

The Memorable First Days!

The first few hours in this world, when we as... Read More

Where Did We Miss?

Talking with friends, people I meet on a regular basis,... Read More

A Bit Of Turbulence

Direct Answers - Column for the week of July 1,... Read More

Its The Little Things That Count

Have you ever been in the situation where you have... Read More

Just a Typical Teenage Boy

Judge not, lest ye be judged. ?Matthew 7:1The call was... Read More

Navigating The Squeeze

Today more than ever before, we are witnessing a crises... Read More

Lock In Your Legacy

You, my friend, are going to die.What? What kind of... Read More