I Think I Can

I think I can, I think I can... what is the first thing that comes to your mind when you read that phrase?  If you are like most of us, your mind goes back to the children's book titled "The Little Engine That Could."  The story goes that a long train needs to get over a mountain, but all the engines refused to help out.  All, that is, except one small blue engine who was equipped with a positive can- do attitude.  Though the mountain was massive and the train very tremendous, the blue engine believed he could pull the train over the mountain.  He focused his thoughts and repeated that all too familiar phrase , "I think I can, I think I can, over and over until, in fact, he realized his goal, conquered the mountain and proudly shouted.... " I thought I could , I thought I could!!

In Proverbs 23:7 (KJV), we are told .." As he thinketh in his heart, so is he."   This verse and many others in the Bible make it clear that our thought life or how we think, has a direct relation to how we live and feel.   Countless research studies by scientists have confirmed these teachings showing that when we have negative, worrisome thoughts that we dwell on, our lives tend to be negative and lacking hope.  On the contrary, when we focus and think on what is good in our lives and in the lives of others, we tend to see life full of options and experience happy emotions more often.  Philippians 4:8 is another verse that teaches us to think/dwell on whatever is true, honorable, pure, lovely, etc.    Controlling our thoughts is not just scientific feel good jargon, but is a prescription for a more peaceful, hopeful life from our heavenly Father.

So, what is the mountain in your life that you need to conquer?  Is it Mount cancer, Mount job loss, Mount sick child or some other mountain? No matter the mountain you need to scale, focus your thoughts, believe without wavering and have hope.  Before long, you too, like the little blue engine can smile and say, " I thought I could--I thought I could!"