The Power of Your Mind

The mind is a powerful place.

It houses our intellect, our will, our emotions, our memories, our habits, our character and the way we do things generally.

Contrary to general belief, the way we do things and our general character is not determined by inheritance and largely unchangeable.

Actually, researchers have discovered that genetics, or inheritance does not play as large a role in behavior as commonly believed.

Rather, they have found out that a large part of our behavior is obtained from the environment we grow up in. As early as the age of 10 in fact, they have discovered that the influences that set us up for life are largely set.

The Bible apparently backs this up. It tells us that we need to change this initial programming because it is often not in the direction that would bring out the best in us. It tells us it makes us follow the pattern of this world.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is -his good, pleasing and perfect will. Rom 12:2 NIV

It tells us to instead go through a transforming process of ‘renewing’ our mind.

How do we do this?

When the Bible talks about renewing your mind, it is not referring to our memories or intellect or even our emotions, but to our subconscious mind.

But what is the subconscious mind?

The subconscious mind is a very important part of our mind. It is that part where our initial childhood programming occurs, and which actually determines our character and habits throughout life.

This is why, a lot of times, after not wanting to do the things our parents did, we still find ourselves reliving their experiences and having their attitudes later on in life.

The subconscious mind is like a blank tape at birth. It is soon filled with positive and negative experiences. These experiences form the basis of a person’s value system. This tape is constantly on, playing back subconscious thoughts to the conscious mind, which, in turn, DRIVES a person’s behavior.

The subconscious mind isn’t very smart. It doesn’t really reason. It simply relays to the conscious mind what has been programmed into it. The conscious mind responds and acts accordingly. This is why we find ourselves deciding to take a particular course of action (new year resolutions, etc) but as time goes on, we find ourselves not being able to follow them up.

If we don’t reprogram our mind, we would find it almost impossible to move past the mindset and level we grew up with.

People begin acquiring values at birth. By the time they’re ten, they’ve acquired the values they’ll carry for the rest of their lives.

But Biblical meditation changes that. It REPROGRAMS the sub-conscious mind. It does this by the power of the Word of God.

How do we meditate on God’s Word? We do so by ruminating, or thinking deeply about a particular verse (usually) at a time. The power of the reprogramming process is in the depth of continued thought.

We think deeply on the Word of God, while speaking it out of our mouths.

This way it sinks deeply into the core of our mind, which is normally not accessible to us, our subconscious mind.

The Bible also calls the subconscious mind the “spirit of the mind”.

Ephesians 4:21-24
If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

You shall rise higher and higher as you reprogram your subconscious mind. You shall receive the ability to have the most important tool to your future – your mind – on your side and pushing you forward, instead of drawing you back, as you move higher in your purpose in life.

VERSES

Proverbs 4:23
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Isaiah 26:3
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.