Norman Vincent Peale - Navigate

NAVIGATE

Navigate

ISBN-10: 0-8249-3219-6
ISBN-13: 978-0-8249-3219-0

Published by Guideposts
16 East 34th Street
New York, New York 10016
Guideposts.org

Copyright 2013 by Norman Vincent Peale. All rights reserved.

This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

Distributed by Ideals Publications, a Guideposts company
2630 Elm Hill Pike, Suite 100
Nashville, Tennessee 37214

Guideposts and Ideals are registered trademarks of Guideposts.

Acknowledgments

Every attempt has been made to credit the sources of copyrighted material used in this book. If any such acknowledgment has been inadvertently omitted or miscredited, receipt of such information would be appreciated.

All Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data has been applied for.

Cover and interior design by Mllerhaus
Cover image of ship engraving by Gustave Dor
Cover image of compass by Shutterstock
Author photograph courtesy of the Peale family
Typeset by Aptara, Inc.

Printed and bound in the United States of America
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CONTENTS

FOREWORD

Thank you for your interest in the work of Norman Vincent Peale. We hope you'll find his words as deeply rewarding and potentially life-changing as we did. Each entry will be framed around one or more relevant Scripture verses, and discuss several conflicts, issues, occurrences, etc., that we face in the occasionally troubling world we live in. And each difficulty is responded to using carefully selected thoughts and anecdotes on the meaning and applicability of Scripture in daily life and the practical advice garnered from Dr. Peale's long life spent serving God and preaching His Word. The syntax has been slightly modified for our time but has preserved the true timelessness of Dr. Peale's original message of hope, toughness, and love, as well as his enduringly warm wit, knowledge and affectionate presence.

The Editors of Guideposts

NAVIGATE

INTRODUCTION

Do you really know how to deal successfully with difficulties? Do you handle things with a sense of control, knowing that you can cope with the changing circumstances of everyday existence? Or do you tend to fall apart, and become depressed and hopeless about your situation? These are important questions for us all.

For anyone whose life is confused, disorganized, frustrated or lacking in energy and strength, the best thing to do is to get healed of such negatives and become filled with faith. You might say, But you don't know how tough my life is. I have real problems!

I am not unaware of how much heartache and struggle there is in human existence. How could I be? I've spent countless afternoons reading the hundreds and hundreds of letters from broken families struggling with abuse, runaway children, drugs, disease, sin, alcoholism, failure, unemployment, loneliness, bereavement. If these letters were put together and published in a book, it would be a total history of human sadness and misery: the gamut of human problems. And yet, we all know of people who, despite their difficulties, manage to pull together and make something profound or powerful happen, through their sheer force of will. I think, more than not, that sheer force of will I referred to stems from a potent, solid faith that drives a man or woman to excel at the highest level. God made us in His image, and we can do right by Him by intending to live in a Godly way.

Moreover, the Bible can help you. That is what this book is about. Its aim is the definite, practical purpose that can be found in a mature understanding of how the Bible gives real help for real problems.

The Bible is a book of faith. As such, it is the history of God's dealing with men and women. It contains the greatest of all philosophy. It outlines the plan of salvation. It explains the origin and purpose of the world. It deals with man and woman and their relation to God. It shows God as the Creator, the Alpha, the Omega. These are all very great and important matters. But the Bible is so much more than a history of man. It is also a deeply rich compendium of God's wisdom, His help and His desire to see to it that all of his children lead a life filled with faith and love in their heartsnot lost, confused, numb or stumbling in the darkness, but found, saved, comforted by grace. And yet, many people do not know how to let the Bible help them.

The purpose of this book, then, and the purpose of the Bible are one and the same: to save you when you need help the most and to help supplement your knowledge of the Word even when you're fortunate enough to not need any help! The wise man, knowing that difficulty is a part of life, will look for ways to become strong in advance, gaining strength that comes through knowing Him. Or, as Psalm 46:10 teaches us, Be still, and know that I am God.

My purpose is merely to open a few more doors by which you may pass into the riches of the Scriptures. As a result of this book and your trusty Biblethe best of all books, indeed this greatest library of all books, will, in time, open up Truth for you in such a way that will change your life in a manner that is wonderful indeed.

You do not need to struggle with defeat, nor live in sorrow. You do not need to give in to weakness and sin, nor hold hate in your heart. Let the Bible help you. It really can, and more effectively than you may imagine. By dwelling on Scriptureand more importantly, ultimately living by them, with them, in togetherness with Godyou make ready for whatever challenge comes, when and if it comes. God bless.

DESPAIR VS. GRACE

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Mark 10:21

How can one become what assuredly God meant him to be, namely, a graceful person, for lack of a better word? This question was suggested by a young man who came for a chat. He opened by asking directly Why don't people like me?

He was about thirty-five and well-groomed, rather exceptionally so in fact. He proceeded to outline certain circumstances and incidents in which he had run afoul of human relations. I do my best, he explained. I try to put into practice all the rules I've been taught about getting along with people. I have really worked at it. (Obviously he was sincere.) But I do not succeed.

There was in his manner of speech a veiled criticism, thinly veiled but nonetheless apparent. His lips pursed in such a way as to indicate a kind of reproof for everybody, as if he had just a bit of disdain for other people. There was about him a marked superiority and rigidity, a primness.