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WHAT YOU BELIEVE IS WHAT YOU GET
The year was 1957 and the place was Long Beach, California. A man there by the name of Wright, had been hospitalized with six tumors the size of oranges. They were tested and he was found to have cancer. He was given only days to live, but something incredible happened to Mr. Wright, and since then his story is one that ‘s become familiar to many doctors here in the USA.
Someone told him that scientists had discovered a serum called Krebiozen,and that it appeared to be remarkably effective against cancer. He begged his physician, Dr. Philip West, to inject him with this new serum. Dr. West finally agreed and gave Mr. Wright an injection on a Friday afternoon. The following Monday, the astonished doctor found his patient out of his death bed, joking with the nurses. “The tumors,” the doctor wrote later, “had melted like snowballs on a hot stove.”
But the story doesn't end there.
Two months went by and Mr. Wright's condition was still excellent. But then --- something surprising occurred. Wright somehow came across medical reports that said Krebiozen had been proven to be a farce, nothing more than a quack remedy.
Immediately, the patient suffered a terrible relapse! His cancer had returned!
In a desperate effort to try and restore him, Dr. West told him not to believe what he'd read in the papers! He then injected Wright with what he claimed was “a new super-refined, double strength“ version of the drug.
In reality---- it was water.
But once more, to the doctors delighted amazement, the tumor masses melted, and Wright again became the picture of health! For another two months his startling recovery remained, and then the unthinkable happened----he read another definitive report stating that the serum, Krebiozen, was ABSOLUTELY AND BEYOND ALL DOUBT WORTHLESS!.
Two days later Wright was dead!.
NEVER underestimate the power of the thoughts you think; what you believe does exert a strange and unexplainable power in your life. As Jesus once said, “Only believe. All things are possible to him that believeth.”
I relate that story because of the principle it demonstrates. If you do NOT believe that what you pray for will happen ---- then, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT! It won't. What you believe is what you'll get! In other words … the things we want to see changed in our lives can literally be influenced and transformed---- by changing the way we think about them.
Jesus put it this way,“According to your faith be it done unto you.” And, “Whatsoever things you desire, when you pray believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.” An attitude of expectant faith is of extreme importance.
Emerson once said, “Beware of what you set your mind on, for that you will surely become.” He was100% CORRECT. You that are taking notes ought to write this statement down and muse over it later: You are not what you think you are, but what you think …you are.
People who seem to receive an unusual number of their prayers answered are people who expect to get their prayers answered. They have a positive attitude about life. They're individuals who think, talk, and attempt things that most people their age wouldn't even think of trying.
When I was 48 years old I resigned a pastorate in Florida and our family of six stepped out on faith, sold everything we owned and drove some 3000 miles north into British Columbia. We saw one church built there, and then, once again, packed up and moved 1000 miles further up the Alaskan Highway. Near the Border of the Yukon Territory, deep in the wilderness, we pitched our tents and began our second northern ministry. It was an effort in which we attempted to reach out to the bush people (as they are called), the fur trappers, outfitters, gold miners, Indians, and families who live deep in remote areas of the wild country.
While there we were told of an old white haired gentleman who came there every year from the States. He would leave his vehicle, take a canoe and disappear into the wild country. For two weeks no one would see him. When he finally re-appeared, his canoe would be loaded with several hundred pounds of meat from the moose that he'd killed and somehow managed to pack out. The last I heard about him, he was close to eighty, and had shown up with his grandson who'd insisted on coming along to help him carry out the meat.. Again, the point I'm trying to emphasize is that some people are old at thirty, and some are young at seventy. Let me repeat my previous statement once more…“You can't measure age by birthdays. Biological time varies, clock time doesn't.”
I remember going on a canoe trip into the Quetico-Superior Wilderness years ago. One day as I was several days from civilization and paddling across a lake, I spotted another canoe in the distance with two people in it. As we drew close to one another, I was quite surprised to see an old white haired man and woman. He was seated in the stern of the craft and I couldn't help but notice that he sat straight as a sapling and paddled with powerful strokes toward my canoe. They both smiled, and we began to exchange greetings. After a few minutes of friendly conversation we wound up swapping some salt for some fishhooks, items that we were both in need of. When I asked what they were doing so far out in the back country, the old gentleman laughed and said that ever since he'd taken his bride on their first canoe trip many, many years ago, they'd been returning every year for this special time together. He said they wouldn't miss it for the world. They may have been old in years, but they were still young in heart. We parted and I never saw them again, but whenever I think of them I'm once again reminded that you can't measure age by birthdays.
It's been claimed by some that William James, was one or the wisest men our country has ever produced. He once stated what he considered to be the greatest knowledge breakthrough of his generation. He said, “The greatest discovery of my generation is, that human beings can actually alter their lives, by altering their attitudes of mind.”
He knew that once a person believes they CAN do something, the chances are good that they actually WILL be able to do it. To state it more plainly ---- what you see,--- AND expect---- is what you're going to get!
I am now approaching my 74th birthday. Ten days ago I was in a wilderness area of central Florida. It was late at night and I was traveling on a trail that led through the jungle-like swamps and palmetto thickets. Up ahead of me was a herd of about ten very wild, and ornery, mean “Russian Boars” (not the common wild hogs of Florida). In my hand I carried an old fashioned, traditional hunting bow with an arrow nocked and ready. The opportunity I was looking for finally presented itself. Working up to about ten yards from the biggest one, a 300 pounder, I managed to drive an arrow into his broad, black torso, He was able to rush about forty or fifty yards through the palmettos before dying. It was all over for that evening but I still had one day left to hunt. The following evening I was also fortunate, and was able to put an arrow into a beautiful Indian Black Buck.
Both animals have now taken up residence here in my home freezer.
Now, some would say I'm too old to be doing things such as that; I should be acting my age. What they don't understand is that I am acting my age … I'm just not looking at the the years and at ageing in the same way they are. Naturally, I don't have the body or strength that I once had, and yes, though I hate to admit it, arthritis does slow me down considerably, BUT I'm still a man. I'm alive, and I intend to live and enjoy life to the full for as long as I can. I have not surrendered in my mind, or my body to the common carica-ture of what old age HAS to be like. Have you?
I've observed many friends and acquaintances over the years who, while still comparatively young (perhaps in their late forties) already talk as if old age was right on their doorstep, and they were already feeling its effect in their bodies.. They'd accepted the idea that they were at the place in life where they'd passed their prime, and were now on a downhill slide. It was common to hear them saying things like:
“Well, I'm getting to an age now when I figure it's time to scale down… After all, ya' know, I'm no spring chicken anymore.
or
“I've made up my mind that at my age, I'm just getting too old to still do that sort of thing any more …”
or
“People my age just have to realize they've got to begin easing up and start slowing down ”
In their minds they'd started thinking of themselves as having begun to physically deteriorate with age. They'd been expecting to start ageing, to start falling apart, and people who believe and talk that way are never disappointed.The sad thing about it is ---- it didn't have to happen to them at all, at least not at that early stage of their lives.
I suppose I have what would be labeled as just a normal memory span---nothing at all out of the ordinary. But one day after reading an article that I came across on memory, I decided that I was going to set out to improve my ability to remember…and do it in spite of any so-called age barriers.
In a short time I became able to learn and recall a list of 70 to 100 things after hearing them only once. I was also able to remember and recall any 40 digit number after going over it only once. Now, make no mistake about it ...I'm certainly no memory expert, but there was one main thing I learned …memory is just like everything else; if we neglect to do anything to keep it sharp or improve it, then like any muscle in your body that you fail to exercise, it's going to grow weak.
Practically anyone can learn to improve their memory. The rub is that you have to want it enough to put out the extra effort that can help make the difference. The steps needed are not hard, but effort does have to be put forth to get results.
Of course, as we grow older there is some natural memory deterioration, but usually not to the extent that many expect. Some people believe that serious memory loss simply must happen to them…and because they expect it to happen to them…like Mr. Wright… it does. But barring serious physical problems, it doesn't HAVE to be that way.
You won't progress beyond what you have in your heart.
According to an ancient fable, a mouse was in constant distress and worry because of its fear of the cat. A magician took pity on it and turned it into a cat. But then it began to worry about the dog. So the magician turned it into a dog. Then it began to fret and worry about meeting up with a panther. Where upon the magician turned it into a panther. Immediately it was full of fear because of the hunters.
At this point the magician gave up. He turned it back into a mouse again saying, “Nothing I do for you is going to be of any help because you have the heart of a mouse and a mouse is all you'll ever really be.”
If you believe you cannot------ you're right ---- if you believe you can --- you're right.. Both concepts are right. In the words of Jesus, “…according to your faith be it done unto you”… “all things are possible to him that believeth”.
IF YOU THINK YOU'RE BEATEN, YOU ARE.
IF YOU THINK YOU DARE NOT, YOU DON'T.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO WIN, BUT THINK YOU CAN'T,
IT'S ALMOST CERTAIN YOU WON'T.IF YOU THINK YOU'LL LOSE, YOU'VE LOST,
FOR OUT IN THE WORLD WE FIND,
SUCCESS BEGINS WITH A PERSON'S THOUGHTS,
IT'S ALL IN THE STATE OF MIND.IF YOU THINK YOU'RE OUTCLASSED, YOU ARE.
YOU'VE GOT TO THINK HIGH TO RISE.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE SURE THAT GOD'S ON YOUR SIDE,
IF YOU'RE GOING TO WALK OFF WITH THE PRIZE.LIFE'S BATTLES DON'T ALWAYS GO,
TO THE STRONGEST OR SWIFTEST MAN,
BUT SOONER OR LATER, THE MAN THAT WINS,
IS THE MAN WHO THINKS HE CAN.February 16, 2007
Dr. Phillip McGlaughlin
Posted by cdrnorth at February 21, 2007 11:05 AM