“Sow a thought, and you reap an act; Sow an act, and you reap a habit; Sow a habit, and you reap a character; Sow a character, and you reap a destiny”  Charles Reade

Who do you feel is to blame for the rapidly escalating price of gas?

You will always reap what you sow!  (Gal. 6:7c; NLT)

How ridiculous would it be if a farmer who wanted to grow a field of corn to sell at his road side stand, planted wheat instead of corn.  Frankly, we would have little sympathy for any ranting and raving the farmer might do because he wanted a field of corn and got wheat instead.  He could pull out the “victim card” and say he was sold the wrong seeds, or that somebody dug up his corn and replaced it with wheat, or that God must be angry with him for some reason, and so on through a seemingly infinite number of blame shifting strategies.  Bottom line, the farmer planted the wrong seeds and will never move forward if he can’t accept the responsibility for what he planted.

The farmer example is easy to see, but it seems that the same logic applies to us when we complain about habits we have or about our lot in life.  Looking at today’s quote, whatever destiny we seem to be headed for, whatever character traits we seem to have, whatever habits we have, whatever behavior we consistently exhibit, all starts with the seeds, i.e., thoughts, that we plant.  We can’t legitimately blame it on our parents, we can’t legitimately blame it on the economy, we can’t legitimately blame it on our environment, etc.  The responsibility lies wholly with us as we alone are responsible for the seeds we plant–the thoughts we nurture and entertain.

For example, let’s take a habit that we know is not serving us.  Perhaps, it’s a habit that we have struggled with for years.  We have done all we know how to do to break that habit.  We’ve taken pills, bought patches, joined accountability groups, hired coaches, and on and on, but the habit persists.  Isn’t that kind of like the farmer trying everything he can think of to turn those emerging wheat plants into corn?  The habit will never change until we take control of the thoughts that are germinating into that habit.  Aren’t we focused on the wrong thing if we are giving all our attention to the habit?  Or the character?  Or the destiny?  Nothing will ever change until we’re willing and able to assume responsibility for what’s happening to us.

Today’s link comes from a periodic email that I receive from John G. Miller, author of QBQ: The Question Behind the Question and Flipping the Switch.  His newsletter challenges us to stop blaming the economy for what’s happening and accept the responsibility that the economy is only a reflection of our actions–which of course, came from our thinking.  Kinda makes one wonder…is the economic slowdown we’re experiencing real, or an inevitable result of the fear being fueled by the pundits.  Should the same questions be asked regarding many of the other volatile issues of our day, e.g., global warming, et al.?

Prayer Power
Lord, help us to see how important our thoughts are.  Help us to see that we are responsible for much of what we complain about.  Give us the grace to take responsibility for those thoughts that we entertain and allow to grow into acts, habits, character, and ultimately destiny.

Link of the Day
Tough Economy?  Maybe It’s Us.

Blessings on you as you examine the seeds you’re planting.