Mind over Matter

DeAnna Willman

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” ESV

As a person you are made up of three distinct parts that correspond with one another to make up the whole of you. You are mind, body, and spirit. (The word “soul” is another word for the mind.) We are told to love God with all our heart, mind, and strength. I believe the heart is representative of our spirit, the strength is representative of our bodies, and the mind is where we make decisions that affect both the spirit and the body.

The mind is not the brain. The brain is part of the body. When you die, your ability to think, create, dream, and choose will be gone, but your brain will still be in your body. Over the past 40+ years scientists and doctors have realized that it is the mind that controls the brain, not the other way around. The mind controls and shapes the brain which then controls and shapes the body. Isn’t that cool?!

While it is very important to eat right according to what is fitting for the temple of the God and King of the universe, to live a healthy lifestyle, and to commune with God on a regular basis, all health starts in the mind. After all, it is the mind that decides what will be eaten, whether you will exercise, how you will live, as well as how often you will meditate upon God’s word, or even believe His word, and it’s where we commune with Him. Our health is a three legged stool that requires all three legs to be present, correct, and strong according to God’s plan for our health. But God created us in such a way that it is the mind that ultimately determines the health of the body and spirit. This is the good news of our loving Creator!

If we do not love God according to His instructions, first and foremost in our mind- in our thoughts, we will not love him with our body and spirit. If we are not healthy in the mind, our love for God, self, and others is greatly hindered. So, how do we address the health of our mind? By the renewing of the mind with constant meditation upon and practicing of the Word of YHWH. God created our minds and knew exactly how they would function and what would be needed for them to function as He intended. He desires for His people to be healthy in all three areas. So, He told us through the apostle Paul, to resist becoming conformed to the ways of the world (including your thinking) and to be renewed by His Word.

What does this have to do with health? We will look more at the mind-brain-body connection of health and healing in the days to come, as well as the amazing love and ingeniousness of our God. Till next time, “I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” 3 John 2