Lift up your eyes
In 1932 Emmet Fox wrote a little book which he entitled “Power Through Constructive Thinking.” I saw it displayed recently as I browsed through the religious book section of a bookstore. After all these years it is still making its way in the book market and in lives of readers seeking inspiration and help.
The book closes with a chapter to be used in checking one’s spiritual growth. I suppose countless thousands of individuals have used it across the years. It reads,
“I Am Really On The Path:
“If I always look for the best in each person, situation, and thing.
“If I resolutely turn my back on the past, good or bad, and live only in the present and future.
“If I forgive everybody without exception, no matter what he may have done; and if I then forgive MYSELF wholeheartedly.
“If I regard my job as sacred and do my day’s work to the very best of my ability (whether I like it or not).
“If I take every means to demonstrate a healthy body and harmonious surroundings for myself.
“If I endeavor to make my life of as much a service to others as possible, without interfering or fussing.
“If I take every opportunity wisely to spread the knowledge of Truth to others.
“If I rigidly refrain from personal criticism and neither speak nor listen to gossip.
“If I devote at least a quarter of an hour a day to prayer and meditation.
“If I read at least seven verses of the Bible every day.
“If I specifically claim spiritual understanding for myself every day.
“If I train myself to give the first thought on waking to God.
“If I speak the Word for the whole world every day.
“If I practice the Golden Rule of Jesus instead of merely admiring it. He said, ‘Whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them.’ The important point about the Golden Rule is that I am to practice it whether the other fellow does so or not.”
Think on these things.
Clyde Nichols is a retired minister, having served First Christian Church in Temple for 27 years as senior minister. He is the author of three books of devotionals and writes a religious column for several Texas newspapers, including The Reporter.
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