When I was involved in my Clinical Pastoral Education internship at the V.A. Hospital in Martinez, California there was a man I spoke with who heard people speaking with him.  There weren't any people visible, even to him, but he heard voices.  This made it nearly impossible for him to function effectively.  I have wondered whether I am all that different from that person.  I frequently hear a voice in my mind.  It is my own.  It is called "self talk."  For some reason we view "self talk" as normal, but "voices" as being psychotic.  Yet, self talk can facilitate or debilitate a person.  Paul understands this and is encouraging us to think, or self talk in particular ways.

   Dr. Maxwell Maltz, in his book "Psycho-Cybernetics," told of an experiment he conducted in which a controlled group of persons shot "free-throws." a particular shot in basketball.  Their ability to make this shot was recorded.  Then, for one month they shot free throws every day for thirty minutes.  Their ability to make this shot increased by twenty-five percent. 

   Then he took another controlled group of the same number of persons and had them shoot "free-throws."  He recorded their ability to make this shot.  For one month he had them visualize shooting and making free throws.  They never touched a basketball during this period.  This group's ability to make free-throws increased by twenty-three percent. 

   Athletes often talk about the importance of seeing what they want to do before they do it.  This is particularly true in golf.  Our own Jack Kemp, former professor at Brite Divinity School, was a pioneer in this area.  He was the personal golf psychologist of Bob Burns, PGA tour player.  He helped Bob and others deal with the mental aspects of golf to improve their scores.

   I believe it was Descartes who said, "I think, therefore, I am."  Another psychologist said, "We become what we think,"  The apostle Paul identified the importance of our thoughts in Philippians 4:8.  Jesus said it another way, "Have faith to move mountains." 

   These people are among the few who have understood the power of our thoughts.  This is one reason why the things we fear sometimes come true.  It is because we think about them too much of the time.  Self talk can be a blessing or a curse.  The apostle Paul, in Philippians 4:8, encourages us to make it a blessing.  It's a choice we make, consciously or unconsciously.  Which choice will you make today?
 

Dawn Breaker #54: What I think determines who I will become.