Touted as the book that reveals the answers to achieving everything you have ever wanted, Rhonda Byrne’s “the Secret” attempts to uncover the mystery to attaining unlimited prosperity in every aspect of your life: love, wealth, health and beyond.  Acclaimed as a must read by some celebrities who swear by it, it is understandable why “The Secret” is a bestseller.  Let’s face it, who wouldn’t want to know the secret to unleashing victory in every aspect of one’s life.

Curious about this ‘secret’, I went to Barnes and Noble in search of the book.  I was not alone in my quest because it was sold out.  Furthermore, when the book was in stock, copies were only kept at the register because it had become one of those books that were frequently stolen. Imagine! People in such dire need of finding the secret to life’s unlimited joy, that they feel compelled to steal it.  After perusing a copy that I was fortunate to find, I realized that this much talked about secret, was no secret at all!

Byrne’s secret to an infinitely successful life is through a “Believe it, Receive it, Be Thankful” approach to life that must dominate our way of thinking, our attitude and our behavior.  The heart of her message emphasizes that the thoughts we harbor and the words we say, influence our feelings and our actions and ultimately, the outcome of our lives. She claims that whatever we want in life, we must attract it to us by positively focusing our thoughts and directing our attitudes and actions toward achieving it.  In the midst of doing this, she stresses the importance of always giving thanks if we want to receive our desires.  Hmmm, it all sounds very familiar, doesn’t it? Now where have I heard that before?

Matthew 21:21-23  – Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Mark 11:24 - Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 – give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Psssssst…….The secret is no secret. It has been proclaimed for over 2,000 years and assembled in a book that is free and accessible to all. It is the blueprint on which this blessed country was built; contains words of life that breathe fire into our hearts and give us the spirit of victory we need to overcome life’s toughest challenges.

Byrne’s core concepts are accurate in that we are called to remain positive, believing that God will fulfill His promises in spite of the circumstances that surround us.  Her key points, though not a revelation, are truthful HOWEVER………… the governing message throughout the book is very misleading because she excludes God and makes us gods in full control of everything that happens in our lives.

Her message is a self-centered, self-deifying doctrine that puts us at the center of our universe. We are gods and the “Universe” does what we want it to do as long as we send it the positive energy that is needed.  Do you want to fall in love? Focus on it, and you will find the man (or woman) of your dreams.  Are you tired of having financial problems? Think about money and visualize seven figure digits in your bank account and you could be the next Donald Trump.  It’s all within your reach because it’s all within your control and only you, stand in the way of achieving your desires.

Excerpts from Byrne’s ‘The Secret’

“You are God in a physical body. You are Spirit in the flesh. You are Eternal Life expressing itself as You. You are a cosmic being. You are all power. You are all wisdom. You are all intelligence. You are perfection. You are magnificence. You are the creator, and you are creating the creation of You on this planet” (page 164) (Note the” Y” in You is capitalized to emphasize that you are god)

“You get to fill the blackboard of your life with whatever you want” (page 184)

“…the secret is within you the more you use the power within you, the more you will draw it to you” (page 182)

The earth turns on its orbit for You. The oceans ebb and flow for You. The birds sing for You. The sun rises and it sets for You.  The stars come out for You. None of it can exist, without You. You are the master of the universe.” (page 183)

“You are God in a physical body?” – What Blasphemy! You! You! You! It’s all about you. Even on the cover of her book, the writing that stands out states, “You have the key.” You are basically the solution to every problem in your life.  Where does a message like this leave God? Unfortunately it leaves Him out. Your Creator; now a Spectator. Where does a message like this leave you? (Matthew 16:26: For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul)

The fallacy of this message is that regardless of what you believe in, “you” are not in control. Things happen and regardless of what you do or how well you do it, you will never fully control the outcome. Good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people. Good things happen to people with bad thoughts and bad things happen to people with good thoughts.

Matthew 5:45: “…for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust”

We live in a fallen world and bad things will happen in spite of our best efforts.  The beauty of this is that it compels us to recognize that we need God and we need the sacrifice He made for us on the cross. Fighting the good fight builds our faith and allows God to show His glory through us. It gives us a testimony and in so doing, saves more people by bringing them into the Light which ultimately leads them to everlasting life. In the end, regardless of the bad things that happen in spite of our ‘goodness’ ”we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Some of you may ask “If all the answers to our many questions can be found in the Bible, why are there still so many that search; that look to people like Ms. Byrne for guidance?”  For some, the contents of the bible are a mystery because their meaning can sometimes be difficult to interpret. As such, the understanding that is needed to successfully apply its life principles, is lost.  The real secret lies in being able to gain that understanding and in so doing, to unlock the bible’s deepest treasures.  There is only one way to achieve this, and that is through a personal relationship with the only One that holds the key – our God, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Colossians 2:2-4: “My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.”

Are you still searching? If you are, I pray that you will come to Him.  He eagerly awaits you and in His presence, you will find that He is the only answer to all your questions .

This article is a viewpoint on “The Secret”, a book by author Rhonda Byrne

Rhonda Byrne, The Secret (New York: Atria Books, 2006) 198 pages

Like a builder that lays no foundation without a plan
And the obedient soldier that waits for a direct command
And the embittered couple that seeks counsel in the midst of strife
So must we as followers of Christ, be guided by the book of life

It is the compass that sets our course so we don’t stray
And the food that nourishes our souls each day
A weapon we use in our war with temptation
This passport secures, in Heaven, our reservation

A gateway that opens to a path laden with grace
That leads us to the Day when we behold His face
Our sole source of power from which all things are possible
A trusted map of life, better known to us as the Bible

© Copyright A.K.Browne, All Rights Reserved

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The battle cry of defeat is sounded
Yet the flesh refuses to be grounded
He fights back hard, as hard as ever
Refusing to surrender to his inevitable blunder

Weakened from an overwhelming need to feed
The soldier must submit to the Spirit’s lead
The battle cannot be lost, there’s so much at stake
Failing yet again, will be too hard to take

A seasoned veteran, the flesh has been here before
He knows what is needed, to win it, once more
Armed with empty promises of instant satisfaction
That can only deliver at the cost of one’s freedom

The battle cry of defeat is sounded
This time for the soldier that is wounded
Reaching for the Word, the only arsenal that can empower
Providing what he needs in this, his desperate hour

© Copyright A.K.Browne, All Rights Reserved.

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Today I lost the battle because my armor failed me

I failed the test because the test failed me

I am at war with my body but it is my body that antagonizes me

I keep going around the same mountain because this mountain pursues me

I failed the test again but….

To be true…..it wasn’t the test that failed me

I failed me…..

By succumbing to sin and granting it power over me

I failed me….

By believing Satan’s lies and allowing him to entrap me

I failed me….

By not trusting God beyond what I could see

I failed me….

By silencing my spirit and applauding my flesh to victory

I failed me….

By choosing the path I thought, was easy

Today I lost the battle because I chose to fight it alone

Victory could have been mine, had I just taken it to His throne

© Copyright A.K.Browne, All Rights Reserved.

Over the last few months I have been debating with a very good friend of mine about some fundamental beliefs in our faith. What puzzles me is how two women that share so much, are similar in many ways and get along so well, can disagree over such important views of the Word. She adamantly believes that she is guided by the Spirit and is in the truth and I feel just as strongly. We have both shared our views and have discussed references to back our beliefs, specifically the Bible, but neither of us is movable on the issues. We remain confident and resolute that we both believe the right thing.

In this segment, we will explore real issues that are happening in the world today and discuss our beliefs/perspectives as Christians. As always, we encourage open and honest discussions on the various “versions” of truth regarding these topics.

See Related Poem: Truth is.. by A.K.Browne

Windows to the Woman’s Soul is a portal into the heart and soul of a woman that reveals her deepest struggles, shares her trials and celebrates her triumphs. With its stories, poems, and candid viewpoints of issues affecting many women today. W2WSoul will demonstrate that God is always in control and that His grace and faithfulness abound in all situations.

Our mission is to enlighten and encourage women that are fighting the good fight on a daily basis and living for and growing in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Launching October 26, 2009.

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