by Napoleon Hill
Available in 122 free installments
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But there was such a man. He was a teen-age problem child. Yet his mother never lost hope even though many of her specific prayers for him seemed unanswered. And she never lost faith, regardless of her son's escapades or wrongdoing.
He was a teen-age problem child. This young man became an educated, intellectual, passionate, and sensual teen-age problem child. He took pride in being first, even in evil. It is said that he disobeyed his parents and teachers, lied and deceived, committed petty thefts, cheated in gambling, indulged in alcoholic and sexual excesses.
Yet because of his mother's constant and earnest picas to him to mend his ways, he struggled to find himself even before he reached the lowest point in his moral life. Sometimes he was filled with shame by the knowledge that men with less education were able to resist temptations which he thought he was powerless to resist. And because he was educated, and because he was searching, he studied the Bible and other inspirational books of his day.
Even so, he lost many battles with himself. And then one day be won the battle that turned the tide to personal victory. This is what happens when a person keeps trying. It was during a period of remorse when he was overcome with self-condemnation that he overheard a conversation in which one voice said, "Take up and read!"
He reached for the nearest book, opened it, and read: "Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put
ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof."
It often happens. After a person suffers a serious defeat in a personal battle with himself, he may at that point be ready. His remorse can be so emotional and sincere that he is motivated to take immediate action and through perseverance make the change that keeps him on the road to j a complete victory.
Now this young man was ready!
And once he made his irrevocable decision, he had peace of mind. He believed that Divine Power would help him overcome the sins which he had previously fought in vain and he developed a deep spirituality. His subsequent life proved this by results. The young man devoted himself to God and the service of his fellowmen.
It is because of what he had been and what he became that he is considered a man who has had a most powerful influence in giving hope even to the hopeless. Augustine was his name. And he was made a saint.
It is well known that the power of the Bible has been instrumental in changing even the attitudes of human derelicts from negative to positive. And because of the special power in this Written Word they were inspired to clear the cobwebs from their thinking. Thus they became clean in thought and habit. Many, like St. Augustine, have been moved to deep repentance and, like him, they have been motivated to devote their lives to the service of God and mankind. And many great evangelists climbed from these ranks.
Now, there are some good people of strong religious faith who also read their Bibles but say to us, "Don't try to interfere with
God," when we recommend other inspirational books. Cobwebs prevent them from trying to extract the good wherever it can be found.
You don't try to interfere with God. Now these good people fear that it is sacrilegious to dare to explore the powers of the mind God has given them: to choose, to plan, and to control their future. Many books of inspiration are written to motivate the reader to direct his thoughts, control his emotions, and ordain his destiny. And they often help the reader to comprehend the truths of the Bible.
This is true, for example, in such a non-fiction best seller as The Power of Positive Thinking. In his book Norman Vincent Peale endeavors to motivate the reader to better himself. To do so, he quotes directly from the Good Book in which such people do believe. Some of the quotations Dr. Peale uses (and which it would be wise to memorize) are:
As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.
If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief!.
according to your faith be it unto you.
Faith without works is dead.
What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
If God be for us, who can be against us?
Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
You have just seen several mental cobwebs as we have pointed them out to you. Some of these are:
