Sharing some Thoughts on the Power of Faith

rticle Title: Sharing some Thoughts on the Power of Faith (Updated)
Author: Craig Lock
Key words: spiritual, spirituality, inspiration, faith
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SHARING SOME THOUGHTS ON FAITH
(from my notes for my latest manuscript):

"Faith sees the invisible, follows the unfathomable...and achieves the impossible."

"You are as great as your faith, as small as your ego."
- Shimon Peires (former Israeli Prime Minister)

"Faith is the pillar of strength that allows man to achieve the impossible, reach the unattainable and solve the unfathomable."

The word "Faith" describes belief without the need of rational evidence. It does not mean that there is NO rational evidence in a person's thinking; but simply that the faith-filled person has no great NEED of it. No undertaking, nothing in life can be achieved without taking some action, a first step in FAITH. Faith is a very powerful force in our lives and the principle of faith (and belief) is the cornerstone, the "bed-rock" foundation of most religions of the world. Also in the "real" (secular and not "airy-fairy") world BELIEF is the key to success. In everything we do in life, we need to have a positive outlook, or expectation of what we WANT to happen, whether it's turning on the ignition key of our car, starting a business, getting married (oops!)...or perhaps writing a book (as I'm doing here). I really want my words to make a difference in people's lives: to help, encourage and impact others around the globe. (Thanks to the power and scope of the internet with it's immediate publishing!).
We expect our outcomes to be successful, but what does one do when your chances of success, a successful outcome to your endeavours seem to be virtually impossible when you start out?

So HAVE FAITH!
Have a strong faith in yourself, as well as the Almighty, a Higher Power. I see God as an observer, yet at the same time as "Co-creator of my destiny", like a "business partner"). We humans have the power of CHOICE - to choose actions. I believe every one of us humans on this planet has some purpose and it is the spirit of God which breathes life into all of us through enthusiasm and inspiration.

Make positive statements of faith - affirmations frequently. .
So many people say: "Show me, let me see it, and then I'll believe it." Great achievers in life say: "I'll believe it and then I'll see it."
God without man is still God. Man without God is nothing.

"Everything is possible for him who believes" (Mark 9:23).

"Doubt sees the obstacles;
Faith sees the way.
Doubt sees the darkest night
Faith sees the day
Doubt dreads to take a step;
Faith soars on high.
Doubt questions, "who believes?"
Faith answers,'I'."

Famous American philosopher R.W. Emerson once wrote: "All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen."

Pascal's argument for theism was: If God indeed exists, we gain a lot by BELIEVING... and if God doesn't exist, then we still lose almost nothing by believing. A "win/win" situation for everyone.

"I'd rather live believing in a God; that I may perhaps find doesn't exist,
than live not believing in a God, that finding on my death-bed, does indeed exist."

When you have faith in God and in yourself, it is easier to have faith in others.

Faith is total commitment

If we BELIEVE, all things are possible!

"Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe."
- St Augustine

"Our grand business in life is not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand. God will supply, but we must apply."
- Thomas Carlyle

"Only he who can see the invisible, can do the impossible!"

My notes from NAPOLEON HILL'S CLASSIC BOOK THINK AND GROW RICH

(Incidentally Hill use the term 'Infinite Intelligence' for what most people commonly today call God, A Higher Power, a Supreme Being).

Faith gives power to thought. How? Faith is a state of mind that can be induced by self-suggestion. Have faith in yourself, faith in the Infinite. Faith is the "eternal elixir", which gives life, power and action to the impulse of thought. Faith is the starting point for the accumulation of all riches. Faith is the basis of all miracles. Faith is the only known antidote for failure.

Faith is the element, the "magic ingredient" (or "chemical"), which when mixed with prayer, gives one direct communication with Infinite Intelligence the "secret formula" to all supreme achievement.

Faith is the element, which transforms the ordinary, yet extremely powerful vibration of thought, created by the finite mind of man, into another dimension, the spiritual realm. You are then "tapping in" to the infinite power of a Higher Being. This realm of what most of us call God is another dimension of timelessness and spacelessness (or perhaps 'human consciousness') that we mortals are not expected to comprehend, fully or partly; yet this spiritual world does operate under definite laws and principles, that Jesus fully understood and put into simple language for the people of his day. (see my other article). No founder of any religion ever used the word possible more than Jesus did! He knew without a shadow of doubt that ordinary people could become extraordinary people, if they could become possibility thinkers. Here are a few words of wisdom that Jesus used: to encourage us down the journey of life.

"All things are possible to him that believes."
( Mark 9:23)

"According to your faith, be it unto you."
(Matthew 9:29)

"Faith without works is dead."
(James 9:20)

"If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move...' and nothing wil be impossible."
(Matt 17:20)

"What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."
(Mark 11:24)

"Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you."
(Matthew 7:7)

"Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things, which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith."
Mark xi.23

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Faith is the only agency through which the cosmic force of Infinite Intelligence can be harnessed and used by man. I prefer the more simple concept: Faith allows God, a Supreme Being to work miracles in your life. It entails a shift of consciousness:
"Letting go, letting God, letting Good".

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THE LAW OF AUTOSUGGESTION:

This is a great little poem...

"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 a cinch you won't.
If you think you will lose, you're lost;
For out in the world we find,
Success begins with a fellow's will,
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 hustle before
You can ever win a prize.
Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man,
But sooner or later the man who wins
Is the one who THINKS he CAN."

- Walter D. Wintle, "The Man Who Thinks He Can"

Absolutely nothing is impossible ("it's kinda fun trying to do the impossible"
- Walt Disney, I think).

Have faith (in yourself and in God, the 'Essence of Life, Ground of our Being').

BELIEVE IT
... then

YOU'LL SEE IT

So

Whatever you want to achieve in life

With FAITH

YOU CAN do it

Craig Lock ("Incorrigible Encourager/People-builder, Information and Inspiration Distributor")

P.S: I truly want to let the light shine brightly through my words to
impact and help others ...to inspire people throughout our
(sometimes happy and sometimes dark and sad, yet always
beautiful and magical) world. So that as many individuals as possible may realise the full potential of the
indominitable human spirit and BECOME WHAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF BEING.
- Craig Lock 24/02/01

"When I let go of who (and what) I think I am, then I become all that I am capable of being."
- craig (as adapted and inspired from Lao Tzu)

"Our Greatest Good is perhaps not to achieve wealth and share our material possessions, our money and 'riches' with others, but through encouragement and faith in other people, to lay the firm foundation of revealing the rich treasure that lies within themselves."
- craig

"The best way to predict your future is to create it. So believe in your dream. Never throw it away. Believe in the dream even when it is impossible. Believe in the stars, even when they're hidden in the storm. Believe in love, even when you can't find it or feel it. Believe in faith, even when God is silent. So turn your hurts into halos and your deepest scars into the brightest stars. And when it's time eventually to take your last breath... you will come to the end of your journey with pride behind you, love around you and hope ahead of you."

- Benediction from Coretta Scott King's funeral by Robert H. Schuller, founding Pastor, Chrystal Cathedral, Garden Grove, California (and slightly adapted by craig)

About the writer:
Craig believes in sharing information and insights to make a difference in this world: to help and especially encourage people along life's magical journey ... and that brings him the greatest joy.
http://www.craiglockbooks.com
http://www2.webng.com/writernz/

Uplifting, encouraging and empowering people through the power of words and thought energy. Change YOUR world and you change THE world."

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