Power of Suggestion

Last Sunday the "kids" van pulled in as Braxton calls it. The ice cream man has a much different meaning to a kid whose mom won't let him buy ice cream. Don't worry the ice cream in the freezer will help him get over his deprivation. As I was watching the kids crowd the van it dawned on me how strong the power of suggestion really is. Most of those kids would have gone the entire day without any ice cream and been fine, but since they heard the music and it suggested that they might want ice cream they suddenly needed it.

As I thought more on the power of suggestion I realized that it is a huge tool that retailers use. First of all they use advertisements to make you desire something. They use gimmicks to get you into the store. Then once you've made it in the store it is the sales associates job to "suggest" other things you can buy to make your purchase more complete. Think about it. How often are you at the register and told about a promotional item you can add? How often do you spend your money because something is suggested? Would you have needed all the things you bought if no one said a word to you, quite possibly not. If I can sell you pants I might be able to add a shirt to go with it. Then of course you might need socks to compliment it and a belt to top it off. Then of course there are nice pieces of jewelry to finish the outfit. The list can go on and on. So there you have it I have let you in on a little retail secret.

The most interesting thing about this power of suggestion is that it is a powerful tool of Satan. He feeds us little by little. This idea is depicted in a poem by Alexander Pope “Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, As to be hated needs but to be seen; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, we first endure, then pity, then embrace.” If we were to see how wicked Satan would have us be when we are good we would immediately shun evil, but you see Satan is smarter than that. First he allows us to think of it as evil. Then he suggests that perhaps it's only a little evil. He wears that on us a while until we believe it. Then little by little he gives more and more wickedness until suddenly he has taken us down to hell thought by thought, idea by idea, and then finally choice by choice. Then he offers us the biggest lie of all. That of absolute despair stating that we have no hope of ever being good again.

In contrast the gospel of Jesus Christ brings us absolute hope and interestingly it too often does it by the power of suggestion. Of course this works best if His disciples will offer the suggestions. Have we not all heard of the suggestion, "come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt 11:28). What if we were as quick to listen to the quiet simple suggestions of the Savior instead of the loud and overpowering suggestions of the adversary? Would we all not find peace and rest? Even better what if we were to not only listen to the suggestions, but also offer the suggestion to come unto Him to our friends and neighbors. I for one am not the best missionary in the world, but I do try and look for ways I can be better at making those suggestions to others. I hope and pray that through the power of suggestion we can build up the kingdom of God one person at a time.