p. 10 | The Power of Thought

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Apr 21, 1904

The Power of Thought

BEWARE of what you think; for what you think, quite as much as what you do, molds your character. Wrong acts persisted in will wreck any life, but wrong thoughts have just as sure an effect. It not infrequently happens that people who live fairly good lives, so far as their actions go, do not feel it necessary to set close a guard on their thoughts. These are hidden, and of what harm is it occasionally to cherish a vulgar thought, if one does not allow it to escape in action? Of what harm to hate, if one does not show it? To imagine one's self committing wrong acts, if one does not actually commit them? But the laws of life say that every thought affects the whole being. “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Evil thoughts gradually undermine the character, and some day these thoughts will burst into action which is irremediable. Therefore, look to your thoughts. “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Keep your mind swept and garnished. And more than that, make the furniture of it beautiful and true; for if bad thoughts persisted in ruin a character, so the best of characteristics may be cultivated by keeping the mind constantly on good things.

Very often one is called on to act in an emergency, and then one acts along the line of one's previous thought. No act is spontaneous; the seeds of it have been for a long time taking root in the brain. Of two men who have lived practically the same lives outwardly, and are suddenly called on to face a danger, one may play the coward, and the other rise to heroic effort. The result is no matter of chance. Little by little the motor-tracts of the brain of one have been weakened by wrong thinking; little by little the brain of the other has been strengthened because he thought bravely. When the strain comes, one unconsciously acts along the line of least resistance. It is then that the hidden thoughts tell. We should see to it that we think heroically, think purely, think charitably. Then in action we shall find ourselves doing the brave thing; we shall act cleanly and sanely; we shall be kind and helpful.—Woman's Home Companion.