Friday, March 9, 2012

Heart & Mind Connection…

The words heart and mind were used often in God’s Word, and very often interchangeably. We often refer our mind to cognitive thinking and our heart to emotional thinking. Let us see what God’s Word relates regarding this. “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people;” Heb 8:10. We see that the heart seem to perform as the mind regularly through out the Scriptures.

The mind battles one endures in this world need not have to be written off as ‘it is just the way’; nor one have to fight them alone. We have to understand that we have a common enemy who wants to undermine what God desires to do in our lives. If we are not careful we are vulnerable, exhausted, overwhelmed, burdened, and desperate and eventually will be caught up in things that keep us away from the presence of God. Our mind can be filled with words like hopeless, no good, failure, impossible, it is over, why try and so on with all negative discouraging words. We need not have to stand and watch deadly games played in our mind and lives without defending them. Bible gives us the necessary weapons, and teaches us to stand against the wiles of the devil in Ephesians 6:11. Bible talks about praying with all kinds of prayer, supplications in the Spirit, being watchful to the end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints; Eph 6:18. When we do this faithfully we will be able to realize where the lies are coming from, and we will be less willing to believe them.

[There are at least forty thousand neurons in the heart (nerve cells). That is as many as you find in the various subcortical centers of the brain. These can be likened to a very sophisticated checking machine, which checks for "congruence for interaction" and is actually a still, small voice that goes up and helps with your decision making. As that information arrives, you make a decision of your will; is this good for me or is this bad for me? Am I going to accept or reject this? And you rely on the heart to guide that decision. This cognitive ability of the heart is due to a chemical called ANF which actually controls the thinking process to help you make a good decision! But get this…

If your mind is chaotic, it completely wipes out that message (the secreted chemicals) from the heart, and your body goes into a state of dis-ease or lack of peace, and you feel it physically. WOW. Isn't that what the Bible has said all along? I refer to Philipians 4:6-8 and Ephesians 4:17-32.

It's what we think on and allow ourselves to believe that makes or breaks us. When we listen to and follow our heart intelligence, we become more educated, balanced and understanding. It follows that the more balanced and coherent our emotions become, the less likely we will be to experience sickness and disease. Rather than write any more, I'm going to give you some references you can check out if you're interested:

Dr. Caroline Leaf, brain specialist and author of "Who Switched Off My Brain?" She also has a DVD called "Your Body, His Temple."
Her website is http://www.drleaf.net/osc/
She is on video on YouTube, and also at Life Outreach International (Dec 22,23)
Institute of Heart Math:
http://www.heartmath.org/research/research-science-of-the-heart.html(this link provides some diagrams as well)
The book "Neurocardiology," edited by Dr. Armour and Dr Jeffrey
Ardell. Proverbs 23:7 NKJV "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he...."]1

[Conscious, authentic living means creating harmony. In our fast-paced world, it's easy to get wrapped up in "mind-stuff." The brain is a wonderful thing, I wouldn't want to be without one. However, the brain alone does not hold the keys to happiness. Happiness requires a harmonious communication between the mind and heart. And, wouldn't you know, there is a science to it.]2

The two most powerful weapons against the lies of the enemy are God’s Word, and Prayer and Praise. “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”; Heb 4:12. It is also such a great assurance to know when God is on our side, who can be against us and He has not given us a spirit of fear, but He has given us a Spirit of power, love and of sound mind.

Prayer and Praise are powerful tools because God’s presence comes to dwell in our midst when we worship Him. In His presence there is fullness of joy and we find healing and transformation for our lives. The Word of God says, a merry heart doeth good like a medicine, and we do not want futile thoughts to darken our hearts and mind! “Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were they thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened’; Rom 1:21. Depression, bitterness, anger, fear, rejection, hopelessness, loneliness, rebellion, evil, and many illnesses all begin in the mind and these take control of one’s life unless we take control of the mind with God’s word. The heart tend to believe what the mind says “As the man thinketh in his heart so is he” Prov 23:7. Let us mature in Christ and be renewed in our minds to have the mind of Christ; 1 Cori 2:16.

Scriptures to support:
“But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members;” Rom 7:23.
“So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law
of sin;” Rom 7: 25b.
“And you shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, with
all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment;” Mk:12:30.
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the
weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down
strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself
against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the
obedience of Christ;”2 Cori 10: 3-5.
“For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and
peace;” Rom 8:6.

Prayer:
Lord, we pray for Your protection on our mind to shield us from the lies of the enemy. Help us to clearly discern between Your voice and the other voices, and show us how to take every thought captive in obedience to Your Word. May we continuously thirst for Your Word and hunger for Your truth so that we can recognize wrong thinking and align our thinking pattern based on Your truth.

Give us the strength to resist lying thoughts and remind us that we should work towards becoming the mind of Christ. In areas where the enemy has strong foot holds in our minds, we humbly ask in Jesus Christ’s Name to cleanse our minds by the wonder working power of Your Holy Spirit. We stand on Your promises and thank You for Your Word that You have given us authority over all the power of the enemy. Thank You for Your love for us which is demonstrated on the Cross by Jesus Christ, and doing it all for us to overcome our common enemy.

We do not want to entertain confusion, but want to live in clarity. We do not want to be tormented by impure, evil, negative and sinful thoughts but be transformed by the renewing of our minds, and accept what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Enable us to be strong in the power of Your might. Help us to be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let our request be known to You. May You give us grace so that we may think whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, having virtue, or anything praise worthy. May Your peace which surpasses all understanding, guard our hearts and mind in Christ Jesus; Amen.

Notes:
1.The Heart to Mind Connection Bubbling Springs and Random Things
bubblingsprings.blogspot.com/2009/.../heart-to-mind-connection.ht...Cached - Similar
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22 Mar 2009 – The Heart to Mind Connection. I have often wondered about the fact that the Scriptures use the words "mind" and "heart" interchangeably.

2.The Science of Bridging Heart and Mind: A Simple Exercise
erin-m.hubpages.com/.../A-Simple-Meditation-for-Heart-Mind-Conn...Cached
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The Heart-Mind Connection. Concious, authentic living means creating harmony. In our fast-paced world, it's easy to get wrapped up in "mind-stuff." The brain is ...


Book References:
1. Payer To Move Your Mountains, “Powerful Prayers for The Spirit-Filled Life.” (Thomas Nelson
Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee, 2000)
2. Practical Psychology for Pastors, William R. Miller, Kathleen A. Jackson (The University
of Mexico), second Edition, Prentice –Hall Inc, 1995,1985, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458.
3. Jay E.Adams, ‘The Christian Counselor’s Manual, ‘The Practice of Nouthetic Counseling’ (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1973)
4. John G. Kruis, ‘Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling; (Grand rapids: Baker Books, Third edition, p. 169-170)
5. David G. Benner & Peter C. Hill, ‘Baker Encyclopaedia of Psychology & Counseling’ Second Edition, (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1985, 1999)
6. Dr. Larry Crabb, “Effective Biblical Counseling” How Caring Christians can Become Capable Counselors, (Hammersmith: Marshall Pickering, 1985), p. 100-104).
7.The Matthew Henry Study Bible, ‘King James version’ The best of Matthew Henry’s Notes in a Handy One Volume Reference Bible, World Bible Publishers, Inc; 1994, Iowa Falls, U.S.A.
8. David Seeking A Heart Like His, ‘Beth Moore’ Life Way Christian resources, Nashville,
Tennessee, 2010, pgs: 206-210.
9. Jay E. Adams, ‘Critical Stages of Biblical Counseling’ Finishing Well, Breaking Through, Getting Started, (New Jersey: Zondervan, 2002)
10. Jay E. Adams, ‘How to Help People Change’ The Four-step Biblical Process, (Grand rapids: Zondervan, 1986)
11. John F. MacArthur, JR. Wayne A. Mack & The Master’s College Faculty, ‘Introduction To Biblical Counseling’, “A Basic Guide To The Principles And Practice Of Counseling”(Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers,1994)
12. Jay E. Adams, ‘Lectures on Counseling’ (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1978, p.192-203)
13. The Holy Bible, New King James version, Women of Destiny Bible, “Women Mentoring women Through the Scriptures” A Spirit Filled Life Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers,
Nashville, Tennessee, Copyright 1982.
14. Deuteronomy becoming Holy People, Stephen D. Eyre, p:32-26; IVP connect, An imprint of Intervarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois, 1998, 2004.
15. Metzeger, Bruce M. (ed); Michael D. Coogan (ed) (1993). The Oxford Companion to the Bible. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-504645-5.
16. Mitchell, Stephen, 1987. The Book of Job. San Francisco: North Point Press. Cited in R. T. Pennock, 1999, Tower of Babel, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
17. Stormie Omartin, “The power of a praying wife”, Harvest House Publishers, Eugene 97402; copyright @1997; pgs81-85.


Website References:
1. Understanding the Relationship Between Heart, Mind & Body By ...
www.inlighttimes.com/archives/2006/03/heart-body-mind.htmCached
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Understanding the Relationship Between Heart, Mind & Body By Howard Martin. Vitality, regeneration, wellness, preventative medicine, holistic health, ...
2. The Science of Bridging Heart and Mind: A Simple Exercise
erin-m.hubpages.com/.../A-Simple-Meditation-for-Heart-Mind-Conn...Cached
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The Institute of Heart Math, which studies link between the heart, mind and emotions, has
revealed that the heart's complex nervous system actually qualifies the ...
3. Bridging Mind and Heart
www.inner.org/audio/aid/5765/bridging.htmCached - Similar
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The main point here is that the relationship between the heart and the mind is one of hierarchy. At each higher level of the hierarchy, the roles switch.
4. Developing The Connection Between Heart And Mind - X~Ray Your ...
xrayyoursoul1.wetpaint.com/.../Developing+The+Connection+Betwe...Cached
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1 Aug 2009 – Here are some tips to help develop your connection between mind and heart... 1. Be yourself If I make a comment to someone - even though it ...
5. The relationship of heart and mind
ryuc.info/creative-spirit/relationship_heart_mind.htmCached
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The relationship between heart and mind centers around the flow of our creative life energy. To live in the heart one surrenders to the flow of energy as it is.

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