Weekend Follow Up | It Is: Part 2 – It Is Here
By Don Gentry
When we begin to truly study science with an open mind and use the scriptures as our starting point and source of truth, it is fascinating to me how accurate the scriptures are.
The Bible was written millennia before the study of Neuroscience was ever developed. In fact, Neuroscience has come leaps and bounds in the last 10-20 years. What we can do with brain mapping and brain imaging is phenomenal.
I said yesterday that Jesus came to bring a revolution to our mind and that the kingdom that he set up was established to bring peace internally. Our internal peace is developed solely in our minds. There is no other organ that can direct our bodies to experience freedom from stress, anger, panic, hatred, bitterness, etc., other than the brain. I love what Romans says to us about the way that we should think:
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.
Romans 12:2
“Our internal peace is developed solely in our minds.” – @DGentry24Click To Tweet
What we find in this passage is that Christ literally helps us rewrite the pathways of thoughts in our minds. We are called to use a different lens for how we process and interpret information that we think about.
Think about it, the Bible says, “take captive your thoughts,” “cast all your cares upon Him,” “be anxious for nothing,” “as a man thinks in his heart so is he,” & “out of the heart the mouth speaks.” I could go on and on. Each time the scriptures use the word “heart” in these and passages like these, it is referring to our mind and the way we think.
According to the Journal of American Medical Association 2007 in an article entitled “Psychological Stress and Disease,” 75% of all illnesses and diseases are either caused or greatly impacted by stress.
Where does stress come from? It originates in how we process stimuli and interpret it in our brains.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
Colossians 3:15-16
Make sure you read that passage and insert the word mind where it says heart. As we learned yesterday, Christ gave us His Peace. We have full access to His kingdom of internal peace. However, it is a choice we have to make.
Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.
Deuteronomy 30:11-15, 19
The Old Testament highlights the choice we have to make. It is a choice of life according to Christ or a choice of death, which is a choice to choose darkness. Christ came that we might choose life.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:10
One of the leading Doctors in the field of Neuroscience and Spiritual development is Dr. Caroline Leaf. In her latest book, Switch On Your Brain, she talks about many fascinating protein molecules that aid in the formation of thoughts, rewriting neuro-pathways, and so much more.
She discusses Neurogenesis (the study of how brain cells are generated) and Neuroplasticity (the study of how the brain is able to regenerate and rewrite itself by forming new pathways) and how certain protein cells have the power to bring life or darkness based upon whatever our thoughts tell them to do. All of us have these protein cells sitting in our brain waiting to be activated. Look at this passage of scripture:
I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:20-23
In a very simplified closing to a very complex field of study, every day we have the option to choose life or death, each morning we are literally given the option to choose the Love of God to be a direct influence in the neurogenesis of our minds.
We have a question that we have to answer each day: Will we allow the peace of God or will we allow the worries of the world to reign victorious in our lives? Christ’s grace and mercy can cover all of our choices, but wouldn’t it be great if we could each learn to choose to live in the fullness of life that he has given us access to? I pray that we can all learn to experience the peace of God more each and every day!