May 26, 2025

Minding Your Thoughts

A Biblical Overview of Obtaining and Maintaining a Biblical Thought Life

Matthew 6:27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

Do you remember the positive thinking fad that gripped the country back in the 80’s?  Norman Vincent Peale authored the book The Power of Positive Thinking. A gospel preacher named Vance Havener once said about that book, “I find Paul appealing and Peale appalling.” Today’s verse pretty much eliminates the basic tenet of positive thinking which is, if you think it, it will become a reality.  This may be true about some things, but not all things.

Jesus asked a rhetorical question to which the obvious answer is “no one”. Imagine a man in his mid to late twenties that is 5 feet 11 inches tall who has always dreamed of being 6 feet tall.  He may add a puffy hairstyle to gain an inch, but he can’t simply think about it and grow an inch.  He may buy shoes with a high heel, he may stand on his tiptoes when measured, he may even lie about his height, but there is no way he can think himself to be an inch taller and become an inch taller.

A positive attitude may be a good attribute that many admire, but I have known far too many successful people who are very negative and yet rich to believe that positivity is the only avenue to prosperity.  A salesperson may need a positive attitude, but to be frank, a CPA doesn’t. A successful CPA career is not built on personality; it is built on understanding the methods and processes of accounting and being very good at them.

If you are short, God made you that way. If you are tall, God made you that way. Whatever your physical characteristics, they come from a loving Father who created you to be exactly what you are. Of course, take care of that which He gave you, improve if possible.  Enjoy the stature God has given you, it is His gift.  To wish it different is basically telling Him that you don’t like His gift. By the way, if there are any who would claim that our appearance is purely a matter of genetics, please remember Job 31:15, Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb? Now, there’s a thought on which to dwell!

May the Lord Bless and be pleased with your thought life today.

Dr. William T. Howe