That which you cannot believe, you cannot have.

When I was a kid, I thought that professional athletes got paid top dollar to play a weekly game then they went home and relaxed all week. (That sounded like the ideal job to me!) As I grew up, I realized the amount of time and energy that goes into preparing for a game. Athletes spend far more time training than actually playing the game. Training helps athletes stay in proper shape, improve their skills and teaches them to work as a team. There is another side of an athlete's training that most people do not consider.Not only do professional athletes have intense physical training, they also have ongoing mental training. They are taught to picture themselves succeeding and being the best at what they do. The mental pictures are consistently reinforced in their heads by trainers and coaches. Studies done on the topic of mental imagery have determined that mental training is equally as important as physical training.Olympics athletes refer to this as "Brain-Training". A group of  gold mentalists shared 5 "mind-hacks" in an interview with Hufftington Post:1. Visualize the outcome you want. (Successful from start to finish.)2. Meditate daily. (Clear your mind, get quiet and be still. Forget the nerves and pressure.)3. Evict the obnoxious roommate in your head. (Remove the voice that is saying: "You aren't good enough" and "You can't".)4. Set smarter goals. (Don't just have ideas, set specific goals.)5. Go with the 'flow.' (Get in a positive zone of knowing that you are successful.)I shared these 5 "mind-hacks" because I can see the power in them. I encourage you to spend some time thinking about how to apply them to your life.Living a life of faith starts with believing, and believing starts in your mind. I have 2 points to share, both seem simple, but it takes a lot of training to operate in them:1. What the mind perceives the flesh projects.Strength starts from within. Your mind receives from words. Your words have power. Proverbs 18:21 says "The tongue has the power of life and death." Your mind believes what your mouth says. Your words set off triggers in your brain in which your body responds. Speak life, speak existence and your body and life will follow. Keep a positive mindset.2. That which you cannot believe, you cannot have.How does a flower grow from a small weed into something beautiful? It doesn't take much. It has to be planted in the right place, good soil. And it has to receive nutrition, water and sunlight. When a flower has these things, it will begin to grow and develop into what it was made to be. The same is true for us. God created each of us with a purpose. As long as we have good soil in our lives (A core group of faith filled close friends.) and proper nutrition (A solid relationship with God through his word and prayer.), we have all we need to be successful. We are different from the flower because we are unsure of what we want to be. Therefore, we have difficulty growing into who God made us to be. The truth is, if like the flower, we knew who we were in Christ, we would have no issue. Proverbs 18:21 says "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."Believe through faith who the Word of God says you are and begin to walk in it. You will begin to grow into who God wants you to be.