Last week one of my kindergarten music classes played rhythm sticks. I came down the rows afterwards giving each child a squirt of hand sanitizer. One little guy asked, “Is that hypnotizer?” I immediately realized what happened: he substituted a word he’d heard for a term he hadn’t yet mastered.
With a chuckle, I told him it was only hand sanitizer. But I kept thinking about what he said. What if there really was such a thing as hypnotizer in a bottle? I’d give each kid a squirt, and as they rubbed their hands together they’d become open to the power of suggestion.
Me (in a soothing voice): “You will keep your hands and feet to yourselves. You will listen while I am talking. You can wait to got to the bathroom.”
Oh how grand it would be!
Sometimes, when I get my spiritual hands dirty, I wish there was a bottle of heavenly hypnotizer. God gives me a squirt or two. I rub my hands together. And I’m suddenly open to the power of holy suggestion.
God (in a soothing voice): “You will be more patient with the children. You will listen (really listen) to me. You should spend time in coffee shops–like Matt, from jesusluvsall.”
Free will is overrated. “Lord, just tell my subconscious mind what to do and let’s get this over with!” But that’s not how things work in the Kingdom of God. In reality, we’re free to choose our thoughts and behaviors. There are always options: good ones, bad ones and somewhere in between.
There’s no such thing as heavenly hypnotizer. And this is a GOOD thing. Robot Christians would be as inauthentic as puppet children. We are designed to love, listen too and obey God (and fallible humans) by choice.
My favorite “Free to Choose” scripture:
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
Joshua 24:15 (NIV)
Today, and every day, may we choose to serve the Lord.
🙏❤️ prayers and love.
Davids Daily Dose 
Comments
35 responses to “The Power of Suggestion”
Well put, Amanda! I was thinking about how much easier it would seemly be if God simply beamed down the answers. But, as someone else pointed out, that would make for much of a relationship. Thank you for your contribution!
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Hypnotizer is something that would come in handy with many people. However, how great is it that God would never do that to us? Also, how great is it that many of us do not need that to follow Him?
Not saying that I can’t use some of it, but stumble as I may, I follow willingly.
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Thank you for sharing,Nancy. You summed up beautifully the conclusion I hoped my readers would come to. I appreciate your input!
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I used to think life would be a lot easier if God made me a puppet so I could always honor God in my actions. Then I realized: God wouldn’t like that arrangement and I wouldn’t either, because we’d be unable to relate to one another. Praise God for the privilege of familial relationship with him, the King of the universe! I also pray to be a cooperative child who can enjoy that relationship to the fullest.
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So very true!
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Amen! Some days it’s easier to choose the Lord than others. It’s a good thing His mercies are new every morning!
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You bring up a good point, Alan! God appreciates the loving acts that come willingly from our hearts. Perhaps our prayers are like the “works of art” on grandmother’s refrigerator that her grandchildren made for her. Thank you for sharing. Blessings to you and Susan!
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Great post brother. It reminded me of these little gilfts that you get from your kids or another loved one, they may not be flashy or valuable but they are given in love by choice. That is the kind of love Father God wants from His children – straight from the heart.
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I love what kids come up with! And you didn’t even put subliminal messages in your power of suggestion post, you just came right out and spoke the truth! “Today, and every day, may we choose to serve the Lord.” Sign me up!
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Yes, thank God His mercy is more! Thanks, Pastor Pete!
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Thank God that after bad choices there is still grace!
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Me too, Matt. Little guys never seem to run out of one-liners.
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Blessed week to you and yours!!!
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Love what kids say
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Hey Jeff! Thanks for checking in. I’ve been struggling to keep up with my reading and writing too.
I like your thought about focusing on talking and listening to God. In other words, focus on the relationship—not just bending my will to the divine.
I read your piece about the “prayer drive.” I do this often on my commute to work, but it’s only 25 minutes. You’re way ahead of that!
Thanks again for stopping in!
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Hi, David! First, sorry I haven’t been around in a bit – work has been slamming and I’ve had a serious dry spell in writing. I liked today’s hypnotizer article. I often wish I could reach into people’s minds and flip a switch!
I wrote a week or two ago about how I spent a 5 hour drive NOT listening to music but trying to “pray without ceasing.” I have to say it was worth it. Some of my constant anxieties have been greatly diminished after spending a LOT of time talking to God about them and asking Him to take the weight for me. Maybe it isn’t about surrending our will to God to make it easy but make the effort to talk and listen. A hard lesson I’ve barely learned!!!
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Amen.🙏
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You’re welcome. God Bless you too!
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“heartitizer.” I love it, Simply B! Thanks for your thoughts! God Bless.
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You just summarized my post in two sentences, Betty! Thanks for sharing. I appreciate your encouraging and positive attitude!
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Yep. To God we must seem like “know-it-all” teenagers! Blessings.
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You’re right, Crystal. I’ve certainly become a better writer while struggling to come up with decent content every week. Thanks for stopping in!
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It doesn’t mean anything if it is not a choice. As a choice, it means everything. That’s one of my favorite Scripture quotes. Great post, David.
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“Free will is overrated.” Love it. I think the problem is we focus on our freedom to make choices without concentrating much on wisdom, discernment, and critical thinking. Good post, brother.
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Thanks a lot for sharing such spiritually uplifting post.God bless.Take care.🙏😊🌹
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Hypnotizer would be the easy way out, but I’ve come to realize the struggles strengthen us.
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Thank you. Being free to choose is sometimes daunting, but it’s God’s way. I appreciate your thoughts!
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So true, David. God loves us too much to make puppets out of us. That’s why we have the will to choose.
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My 3 year old grandson thinks the word is hanitizer. 🙂 I appreciate your thoughts in this post. Honestly I might want God to just give me some “heartitizer “ and then hypnotize me into being a good (old) girl. But yes, authenticity…. I choose Jesus.
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Amen, Manu! May we always be willing to choose God’s way. Thank you for sharing!
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I chucked as I read this. Sometimes I want to not have to strive against myself to stay obedient but yes the Lord does not want Robots. True, heartfelt, willing hearts is what He wants.
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🤣🤣🤣 I hear you, Barb. Will do!
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If you ever find the hypnotizer please please please send me the link. It would be so helpful. 🙃
In the meantime I’ll just keep praying 🙏
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Your comment reminds me of Paul’s words to the Philippians to, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Thanks for your thoughts, Bridget! God Bless.
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When I stumble I sometimes ask God why He can’t just snap His fingers and make me different and make me overflow with the fruit of the Spirit. I appreciate your reasoning in this post. We don’t want to be robots. We want to be authentic and genuine. So very true. And I must say that when I do meet truly genuine people, they leave a lasting impression.
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