By Atty. Antonio P. Pekas
With all the problems only war can bring, we need all the help we can get, even from ourselves such as by harnessing powers we never thought we had.
One is positive thinking. This is akin to the “can do” spirit. If we think we can achieve something, chances are we will really think of ways to achieve our goals. We will be emboldened to try ways, and exert the necessary effort. I am not referring to illegal ways, but honest to goodness remedies.
Take the opposite. Thinking that a task is impossible and you are helpless about it will really make you helpless. With that attitude, even if you employed illegal or underhanded ways, it will get you nowhere. Or will just get you into trouble.
But you’ve got to believe in magic. Or the Universal Force. Or God if you will.
Positive thinking comes with the belief that God will find a way out of “no way.”
I knew a group that was preoccupied with prosperity. They believed in the Universal Force or God’s power to change your life but this should go with “positive thinking.” If there is anything though that kept me at a distance was their preoccupation with material prosperity as an end instead of as one means for spiritual progress.
One technique they used was “imaging” or “imagining.” If you wanted something like a beautiful car, their technique to get to the goal of having it was to keep “imagining” or picturing the image of that car in your mind. As they said, if your desire were strong enough you would be able to get it somehow.
This goes with the saying to be “very careful about what you pray for because you just might get it.” Let us go back to that beautiful car. What if you got it? It would not be just by itself. Like any other thing in this world, there will always be a negative aspect. You will have to pay for its yearly registration and the periodic maintenance costs. And beautiful cars with nice performance have relatively high maintenance costs which might be a big problem for you.
Another example is the prayer for you to have a lot of money. What if God fulfilled your desire or granted your prayer but it would result in making your kids spoiled brats and they become addicted to illegal drugs, burning their brains and making them crazy? Which would you prefer? Lots of money but with crazy kids or just having enough but good sane kids? Indeed, be careful what you ask or pray for?
So the right prayer is for God to give what you are desiring if it were good for you and your family. Tell Him that if it would be bad for the spiritual progress of all or any member of your family, then forget it.
After all, doesn’t He know what is best for us? The birds don’t store food in barns yet He takes care of their nutrition needs.
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