The power of the mind is not mind over matter, but how the mind has the power to totally affect who we are. The bible says ‘As a man thinks in his heart so he is’, Proverbs 23:7. Another version reads ‘As a man calculates in his soul, so he is’. How does this work in reality for the human mind is an amazing and awe-inspiring topic?
Power of Mind Affect
The power of our mind is the engine that drives us and permeates every aspect of our life. Our mind shapes our perceptions and our alters our behaviour. If you tell yourself often enough that you are a failure, then that is what you will become. If you dream of achieving a goal it begins in the mind, then you need to out-work your way to the fulfilment of that goal. Too many people quit just before they achieve the goal.
Besides that, all our relationships are affected by the power of our mind. It is where we remember our past experiences, think about our present circumstances and have hopes for the future. The power of our mind influences our quality of life for if we harbour unforgiveness and bitterness that is what we become. Think of someone with a sunny disposition. What is their mind centred on?
Knowing the Power of the Mind
Recognizing and understanding the power of our mind can enable us lead fulfilling lives. God will give you the desires of your heart, Psalm 37:4. It’s not what we have, but what we believe in our mind.
That decides our eternal destination, for the road to salvation begins in our mind. Do we accept or reject the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
What do we believe of unseen and unseeable things, for the spiritual realm is as real as the natural world. It can be likened to a parallel universe as talked about in quantum physics.
The Mind Never Stops
It is our mind that interprets sensory data from our environment and attempts to make sense of what we experience. In other words, you are always talking to yourself, just as our Heavenly Father never stops speaking.
Whether we are awake, asleep, conscious or unconscious, the mind never stops working, unless you have brain damage, or are suffering from diseases such as dementia. Therefore it is up to us what is the focus of our mind, besides having times of ‘resting’ the mind.
Healthy Mind
If you are wise you consider what you feed your body, without being fanatical. It is just as vital to consider what you feed your mind and there are many ways to numb or to strengthen and develop your mind. Our mind plays a pivotal role in regulating our emotions, managing stress, and maintaining our mental health.
It is vital that we take hold of negativity and keep it in balance. The bible says to take every thought captive, to the obedience of Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:5.
Satan’s Playground
We are born with a sin nature, so an undisciplined mind is the devil’s playground, for sin starts in the mind. Eve saw the fruit and Satan worked on her fleshly desires, Genesis 3. She saw the fruit was good for food, a delight to her eyes and desirable to make her wise, Genesis 3:6.
What was in her mind controlled her actions, which brought about disastrous results that affected the entire human race. We need to remain self-controlled and alert for the enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour, 1 Peter 5:8. Satan is a malicious enemy whose goal is to malign the believer, hoping to overwhelm through temptation, persecution, and discouragement. Our mind is constantly being bombarded with outside influences.
While the mind is a powerful tool for good, it can also be our greatest snare. It is no wonder we need to check every thought that passes through our mind. Jesus said, Whoever looks on a woman with lustful intent, has already committed adultery with her in his heart, Matthew 5: 28.
Check Outside Influences
We can let our mind take us down dark and deadly ‘rabbit holes’ where Satan is an eager participant. Or we can lift our mind to think on spiritual things. The mind affected by if we watch endless hours of violent television or play hours of killing video games, or demonically based television shows. Reality and fantasy become blurred as the mind becomes morally hardened.
We can let our mind be influenced by what others say, or we can be led by the Holy Spirit. It’s all about who we yield our mind to.
Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God and that you are not your own? You were bought with a price, 1 Corinthians 18:19, 20. We were given a mind that can reason and understand for a godly purpose. It is up to us how we use that mind particularly when we are going through fiery trials.
A Powerful Tool
Our mind is one of our most powerful tools, for what we feed our mind is what will drive us. We are exhorted to not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind, Romans 12:2. Just as you take certain safety precautions with physical power tools, so too you need to take safety precautions with the power of the mind. It needs to be nurtured and protected at all times.
We can set our mind on things above not things that are on earth, Colossians 3:2. Paul says to pray without ceasing, 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Our heavenly Father and our heavenly home needs to be the central focus of our thoughts and desires, after all that is the only thing that is eternal. All else will pass away.
A Mind to Worship
God gave us a free mind and a free will that we would worship Him and be in a covenantal relationship with Him, for we were made in the image of God. It is up to us how much we discipline our mind, for no one else can do it for us.
Finally, we are to have the mind of Christ whose sole desire was to obey the Father, 1 Corinthians 2:16. It is the Holy Spirit who will open the scriptures to us and enable us to control the power of the mind and put it to good use. The true power of the mind comes from God.
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