The mind is a working marvel and miracle of complexity, isn’t it? Have you ever just taken a moment to watch a toddler play? Or be amazed at how many brain functions are happening at one moment, ultimately allowing you to perform a certain task? How about the ability to laugh at one moment and minutes later feel sorrow or empathy or anger? It’s astounding. We can give our Creator thanks for this!
Google states: “Our brain is the most complex biological structure in the known universe—as it is often described. According to Gleiser (2013), it is estimated the human brain contains roughly 86 billion neurons. Those 86 billion neurons power all of our thoughts, perceptions, memories, and our emotions—all products of our brains.”
But that creative marvel can quickly turn into a ball of mayhem if unmonitored. Recently, my brain feels overloaded. My mind is many times overwhelmed with the social, cultural, political & personal neuron-hits bombarding my head and looking for a place to make a home. I’m happy to think and process, just not when it’s a neurological overload.
A truth worth remembering in God’s vast creative resume is He also included a framework for our mind to work in conjunction with our bodies and our spirits. Genius! So as our brain processes information we have our bodies to act on that, like releasing hormones to help with stress. We also can be fed spiritually when we cry out for direction in the chaos.
Recently, I was reminded of a set of scriptures I used in a girls’ group I led some years back. This was their mission statement–a great one for developing teens. Really a great one for anyone.
Philippians 4:8–9 ESV
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. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
This is how I use this scripture to make sense out of the chaos and mental overload I feel at times: -Meditating and acting on this wisdom creates a life of peace- a peace which is not defined by a few good characteristics but a calm that overrides the crazy. Our world around us is chaos and our minds will be in chaos if we don’t choose to think outside of it.
– As we mediate and act, we are transformed in our thinking, which leads to doing. Because our minds, wills and emotions require peace to thrive, we can use these tools to see peace actually reign in our lives. Peace can govern us, instead of our fickle emotions. We can live with our emotions without our emotions controlling us.
-This is important because then we are ready and healthy to serve others. It is better to give than receive. Why? It takes our focus off ourselves so we can partner with God to be a blessing to others without being sidelined completely.
I’m thankful for a Creator God who has put into place all that I need to thrive physically, mentally and spiritually. For this I give Him all the praise!
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