Don’t give ear to comments that debase or demean Godly principles, such as: “Mind over matter is equal to or greater than faith.” Though these two entities run a close parallel on the same narrow line, and are often confused with each other, they are assuredly at opposite ends of the spectrum. I call this thin line, ‘choice’. It accommodates power of positive thinking and power of positive faith. We can choose one or the other. It is our choice to make.
Mind over matter is pursued in the context and closed circle of self…self-will, self-indulgence and self-absorbed thinking, which lack the depth, height and breadth that only positive faith in God can provide.
Mind over matter is finite; limited at best; stemming from a foundation of natural thinking, which takes a person only so far. Positive faith is infinite in nature, which takes us beyond the natural everyday scheme of things into the spiritual realm where miracles happen.
(1 Corinthians 2:14 , “But the natural man does not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
The brain is indeed, wonderfully made, and very powerful. The progressive mind can take a person to places that a passive mind cannot.
(Proverbs 23:7), “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”
At one time my belief system consisted of myself and natural thinking. My attitude was, if I can’t do it, it can’t be done. This philosophy motivated and drove me to accomplish things I set my mind to do. But with all the abilities and positive thinking I had, it was impossible to achieve happiness, peace, joy, satisfaction and contentment. It seemed the harder I tried the farther removed they became. The dots would not connect for me.
All the material things I possessed; the status that I worked hard to attain; the money I accumulated; and the friends I associated with, could not satisfy a deep, inner longing that gnawed at my insides. Though successful in the eyes of others, I lacked faith to achieve true success.
Though positive thinking took me to high places, it left me hanging and unsupported; listing back and forth in a never ending struggle between natural thinking and a subconscious notion that there must be another dimension higher than my own that could quench the thirst for lasting achievement. I was going in circles, because of self-sufficiency and wrong choices.
Attaining certain goals and aspirations through the power of positive thinking is certainly note worthy and probable, but lack the stability of confidence that faith in God brings.
The Bible is full of promises that God gives to those having faith to receive them. The power to believe, through faith, stems from the God-mind, not of the same dimension that power of positive thinking comes. It is a dimension unto itself; unscathed by finite thinking. We can either choose a self-imposed or God-imposed belief system. Both are powerful. But when it’s God-imposed, it promotes confidence to believe for miracles.
There is also power in the spoken word. It can cut deep to the inner core of another person, causing hurt and anguish; or it can encourage and empower them to rise above their troubles. We possess this power whether in self or God. For someone to deny the power of the mind is utter nonsense, because we have the power to do good or evil, depending upon our motives, our nature, or what we crave to achieve. Though we are powerful creatures in self and in God, He reigns supreme and is the higher power.
Some individuals seek status and power at the expense of others; stepping on people that stand in their way. Look at many of our politicians. They can accomplish just about anything they set their minds to do, because of a basic instinct called greed. Yet, there are those that desire little recognition for themselves, and strive to help others achieve their dreams. Both are stimulated by brain power, but from which end of the spectrum?
The mind, in self, can aspire to places that strain its ability to grasp reality or to function as God had intended. Abuse of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, failure to guard what enters the eye and ear gates, and other negative influences, can factor into the demise of sound thinking. All have unhealthful affects on the mind.
Coffee, tea and most soft drinks contain caffeine that also affects the mind. It is addictive in nature and causes mood-swings. Withdrawals reveal the real hold caffeine has on a person. It can cause physical and emotional trauma like depression, fear, headaches, anxiety, emotional breakdowns and much more.
The mind can even cause panic attacks with serious side affects if allowed to go unchecked. We must guard ourselves against stimulants and other mind altering agents that will throw us into Satan’s playground of torment.
The power of positive thinking, in self, or the power of positive faith, in God, is a choice. I prefer to allow God to control my thinking rather than me controlling it. I don’t know what is best for my spiritual man, but God does. I will trust His supreme knowledge of good and evil, and ask Him to direct my thinking accordingly.
My prayer is this: “Lord, teach me how to yield my thinking to the God-mind and help me grasp your vision and direction for my life as I step out in faith to claim your promises.” Amen
Though we may not see clearly what we are hoping and praying for, through the power of positive faith in God we can expect the answer to come. Faith is the ability within us to trust the honesty of God. If He said He will do it, we can believe that He will.
(Hebrews 11:1), “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Papa Boyd
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