There are many terms and expressions that are used frivolously today that the deepness of their meaning are lost. Take these for instance, “I love you”, “darling” or “hey sweet heart”, as can often be heard in the stores (tempted to respond sometimes, “I am not your sweetheart”). All these have their relevant meaning, but are frequently misused. The same goes for “Mind over Matter” which we are discussing today.

The expression is composed of two words, with one having a superior position to the other; the mind is over the matter. In the ideal world, as God first made it, in the beginning, the expression “Mind over matter” was wholly true and relevant in all three aspects of life:

1) Physical, the head was literary over the rest of the body.
2) Mental, the brain physiologically controlled all other organs.
3) Spiritual, the voice of reason or God’s voice, spiritually directed the mind how to do right.

To a great this is no longer true in all three cases today, not for the majority of people at least. While for all, the head is till above the body, and on the basic level the brain controls body functions, the majority do not allow God to direct their plans.

Because of this, many are suffering from problems of the mind such as anxiety, guilt, hopelessness, loneliness, unworthiness, mental or emotional issues, as it is really God that supplies our happiness (and all things necessary for that matter). As an extension to mind disease, due to not adhering to God’s life essential counsel, many develop very tangible physical disease, such as cancer, diabetes, dementia, Alzheimer’s, heart conditions, osteoporosis, hypertension and many alike, as will be seen here. But first, what do the words in “mind over matter” mean?

What is the “matter”?

  • “Physical substance in general, as distinct from mind and spirit; (in physics) that which occupies space and possesses rest mass, especially as distinct from energy.” (Google dictionary)
  • “Body” (Webster’s, 1828)

Therefore anything that is not mind, or spirit (intangible with a hand) is matter or in other words, the physical body in our case.

What is the “mind”?

  • “The intellectual or intelligent power in man; the understanding; the power that conceives, judges or reasons.” (Webster’s, 1828)
  • “The heart or seat of affection.”
  • The will and affection; as readiness of mind.

The word mind means several things, but it is essentially useful in reasoning, in exercising the will power, and does together with the heart hold our affections.

So how does this relate to the aspects of life?

Physical level

Our bodies, required as the foundation of life if you like, were made when “the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground” (Genesis 2:7). ‘Man’ means human beings.

Consider the illustration: If the body were a country, the brain would be it’s capital.

Mental level

When God “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life”, man received the ability to reason, to practice will power and to experience affection.

If the brain were the capital of a country, the mind would be it’s governing power, or government.

Spiritual level

Man was then made perfect when God made him to “became a living soul”, he was clearly sensible to God’s directions through the voice of conscious. As long as he chose to follow that voice he would do what was right and thus prolong his well-being.

If the mind were the governing power, the conscious would be prime minister, president or king; one who has the general responsibility of the overall principles, values and guiding framework that maintain the integrity of the government and in effect the wellbeing of the country, or in this case the mind, brain and body.

What then is the consequence of breaking this God-designed structure?

Applying the illustration above, it is clear that when there is no more confidence in the king, the governing power of the government will soon seize to function. When government seizes to function, the break down of society, or country (anarchy), must follow as the result of cause to effect. I’m sure you’ve heard of rioting, striking, discontent and general social unrest. It is no different to the human body, except these symptoms are manifested as mental and physical illness. Bodily anarchy, such a sad state do many accept as normal!

What then is the remedy for this?

“The relation that exists between the mind and the body is very intimate. When one is affected, the other sympathizes. The condition of the mind affects the health to a far greater degree than many realize. Many of the diseases from which men suffer are the result of mental depression. Grief, anxiety, discontent, remorse, guilt, distrust, all tend to break down the life forces and to invite decay and death.

Courage, hope, faith, sympathy, love, promote health and prolong life. A contented mind, a cheerful spirit, is health to the body and strength to the soul. “A merry [rejoicing] heart doeth good like a medicine.” Proverbs 17:22.” (Ministry of Healing 241)

Only Christ can gives us a merry heart, do ask Him for it and obey!

References
King James Bible
Ministry of Healing 241
Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary
Google’s dictionary