The manifestation of success in our outward life is merely a reflection of our thought life. Our life is affected by our habit of thinking and attitude of mind, in two ways: first, all our actions are unconsciously influenced by our thoughts, thus helping to manifest success, or attract to us, an environment that corresponds to our thoughts. This may seem at first to be a sweeping statement, but two homely illustrations will prove its reasonableness. Let’s take the case of a man committed to prison for law-breaking. His environment and lack of ability to manifest success is obviously due to his wrong actions, the latter being the offspring of his thoughts, for all actions spring from thought. Next let us take the case of a man who is the trusted head of an efficient business. Obviously his manifestation of success is the result of his actions, for he has climbed to it by hard work and faithful service, all due in the first place to constructive thinking and a right attitude of the mind. Secondly, we discharge or emit an influence, silent and invisible, that no doubt affects other people. They are probably not aware of it, but they are either repelled or attracted by this silent influence. Thus, if our thoughts and mental attitude are of the wrong type, not only are our actions affected thereby, but also we exert a silent influence that assists in driving the right type of friends, opportunity, success and every possible good away from us. The reverse is equally true. By right thoughts and a correct mental attitude we naturally manifest all the success which our present life is capable.

Jeremiah 17:10 "I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."

The Bible tells us that as a man thinketh in his heart so is he. It is equally true to say that as a man is, so does he think, and, that as he thinks, so do his outer life and successes or lack of successes become. Therefore, as a man is, so is his environment. This may sound rather metaphysical, but it is really quite simple, and the proof meets us at every turn. Take a man from the slums and put him in nice surroundings, and note what happens. Very soon he either drifts back to a slum or turns his new house into a slum dwelling. Take a man of a higher type, and put in a slum, and soon he will manifest success and leave the slum or change his slum dwelling into a more decent habitation. Put a tramp in a mansion, and she will turn it into a pig-sty, but put a woman of a higher type in a hovel and she will make it clean enough to entertain royalty. Therefore, before you can change a person’s environment it is necessary to change inwardly the person himself. When a man becomes inwardly changed and filled with new ambitions, ideals and hopes, he, in course of time, rises above his sordid surroundings and manifest to himself an environment and success that corresponds to his new state of mind. It would be useless to tidy up the house of a tramp for her, for she would soon make it like a pig-sty again, but if you could get a new ideal of neatness, cleanliness, order and spotlessness into her mind, she would not rest satisfied until her immediate environment corresponded, in some measure at least, to her mental ideal or image. Change and renew your thought life and you will manifest success in your outward life.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Very often, the lack of success in a man’s life, and its disharmonies and poverty, either comparative or real, are outward symbols of his weakness of character. He may have ability in plenty, but he may lack application or steadfastness, and thus he fails in all his undertakings. He will assure you that his lack of success is due to ill-fortune, but the actual cause of his failure is in his character, or, rather lack of character.

If, therefore, a man’s poverty and lack, or financial difficulties are due to his weakness of character which manifest in his work and dealings with others, in the form of inefficiency, poor service, bad judgment, it follows that he himself, must change before his circumstances can be permanently altered for the better and abundant success achieved. The difficulty in dealing with unsuccessful people is in getting them to realize that they, themselves, are the cause of all their troubles. Until, however, they do realize this, their case is hopeless, and it is impossible to help them, but when they acknowledge that the fault is theirs, they can be shown that there is a remedy for their ills and a way out of their difficulties, by means of changing their thoughts and self-improvement, thus manifesting success into their life. Let them then search for hidden weaknesses, and build up those weak places in their character, such as lack of grit, determination, endurance, persistence, patience, gratitude, decision, which are the cause of their troubles, and they will find that their successes will gradually increase.

Romans 2:7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.

Proverbs 25:15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

Colossians 1:11-12 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

Everything comes from within—first within, then out, this is the law—therefore the change must always take place within to manifest success outward.

God Bless, Carol Biondo