There are 92 verses in the King James Version of the Bible that contain the word mind. Therefore, there must be a connection between God and the mind. Hence, what is the relationship between the mind and God?
What is the Mind?
The mind is the group of senses in control of mental occurrences. Frequently the term is additionally identified with the occurrences themselves. These occurrences include thought, imagination, memory, will, and sensation.
The Difference between the Brain and the Mind
Conventional wisdom uses the mind and the brain interchangeably. Brain and mind are words used in reference to the organ within our skulls that we use for thinking. However, the brain and mind are two separate entities that are interconnected. You can’t have one without the other. The brain is the physical organ; the mind is not physical but mental and is contained within the brain.
The mind utilizes the brain, and the brain reacts to the mind. The mind, in addition, changes the brain. We choose our actions; our brains do not force us to do anything. While there would be no conscious experience without the brain, experiences cannot be reduced to the brain’s actions.
The mind is energy, and energy is generated during the course of thinking, feeling, and choosing. It is the source of our living, and without it, the physical brain and body would be of no use. Therefore, we are our minds; as the Scripture reads, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:” (Prov. 23:7), and mind-in-action is how we generate energy in the brain.
The Mind and God
So what does this have to do with God? For starters, God is our creator, and He created our minds as well as our physical bodies. However, there are two influences on our minds; God through His Holy Spirit and the world’s forces controlled by Satan (Eph. 2:2).
Minds are vital because they are the means by which God communicates with us, we communicate with Him, and there is a spiritual battle for our minds. This battle is known as Spiritual Warfare. For a more in-depth explanation of spiritual warfare, please read the article, All about Spiritual Warfare on this website.
When we resist the worldly influences and accept Christ as our personal Savior, God will protect our minds from the evil forces of the world. Let’s look at some examples.
Here is how we communicate with God. When Jesus responded to the question of what the Greatest Commandment is, His response was, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind“ (Matt 22:37).
In this Scripture, the purpose behind Jesus’ statement is that we should love God with all of our beings. “Mind” alludes to an active element of our love for God. Conventional wisdom describes faith as a trait of individuals who do not think. However, Jesus’ words point to the importance of engaging our mind as a central aspect of our beliefs. Indeed, loving God with our minds involves much more than the practice of thinking about God. If we place our minds into serving God, it will enjoy its greatest usefulness.
Next, Rom 12:2,
2 Do not conform any longer 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.
Loving God and accepting Christ as Savior is not to find out how much like the world we can be but maintain our distinctiveness. But it is, declining to “conform” to this world’s values and must go even more profoundly than the level of behavior and customs — it must be unwaveringly planted in our minds — “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” If it doesn’t happen in the mind, it doesn’t happen at all.
Here is how God communicates with us. 2 Peter 1:2-4
2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. NIV
Once we allow our minds to be transformed, God ministers to us, our minds, through His Holy Spirit.
The power of Christ reveals itself in the lives of Christians. As the Scripture reads, “Christ has given us everything needed for life and godliness.” The power that allows us to grow does not come from within us but from God. Since we do not have the basis for living as he requires, He gives us everything we need for godly living (to keep us from sin and aid us with living for Him). “Godliness” represents moral uprightness and the honoring of God. Peter used the word in this passage and also1:6-7; 2:9; 3:11. When we are born again, God, by his Spirit, empowers us with his moral goodness, making it possible for us to live for him. See John 3:6; 14:17-23; 2 Cor. 5:21; and 1 Peter 1:22-23.
This transition has its benefits. One of these is—peace. John 14:27
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. NIV
Jesus never promises that we will not have troubles. In fact, he says the opposite in Matt 5:11:
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. NIV
However, the peace that Jesus supplies yields strength and comfort for the burdens we must carry. Jesus gave the disciples then and those of today peace that would help us through our own time of trial ahead.
We all have a desire peace. The peace the world yields is a sort of peace. It involves temporary freedom based on distraction that supposedly allows us to live with little interference. The world offers the peace of escapism found in our times of daydreams or amusements (shopping, drugs, affairs, etc.).
The peace the world provides yields a false sense of security. This circumstance goes back to Biblical times: People say, “‘Peace, Peace!’ when there is no peace” (Jer. 6:14 NKJV). In fact, the unquenchable pursuit for peace has often provoked some of the most dreadful conflicts in man’s history. The world waits with anticipation that we will work toward peace and get there someday if everyone collaborates. But will they?
However, the peace Jesus offers his followers is different. It is His peace. It is the peace He demonstrated in his daily life. The peace of Jesus’ did not flee conflict, pain, or death. In fact, the more severe the difficulties, the more evident Jesus’ peace became. His peace was the result of his relationship with the Father.
Phil 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. NIV
Christians are not to worry. Even though we are to be responsible for ourselves and care for others, we are not to worry, fret, or exercise undue concern. Instead, we are to pray—“in everything.” We must worry less and pray more. Prayer is to be our lifestyle, not our life jacket.
In verse 7, we have the result—peace. The peace addressed above. The peace that “transcends all understanding.”
People just cannot understand how an individual can be at peace in spite of all that is going on around them.
It is not a natural response in times of sorrow, pain, or calamity. This peace is not self-generated; it simply cannot be; for it comes from God alone; it is his gift to us in a challenging world. As with a considerable amount of God’s dealings with humanity, we cannot understand it, but we can experience God’s peace if we accept it because of his vast love for us.
These examples illustrate how God communicates with us through our minds. If we trust Him, He will bless us and give us the strength and peace we need to survive this troubled world.
Isa 26:3
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
We may not be able to avoid the strife in the world around us, but we can know perfect peace even in turmoil when we fix our thoughts on God. We become steady and stable as we focus our minds on God and his Word. Supported by God’s unchanging love and mighty power, the surrounding chaos does not shake us.
God communicates through the mind. Therefore, if you want peace, focus your thoughts; your mind on God and put your trust in Him.
Amen
Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.
Blessings
What a soul-lifting article. I also had to have a look at your other article titled “Spiritual Warfare”. I so much appreciate God for this site, that explores the word of God and points people to the truth. I learned a lot from this inspiring piece. My mind needs to be constantly focused on God in every situation. No matter the chaos in the world, God has made provisions for us through His word. And to always remind myself that I am in this world but I am not of the world.
Hi Bethel – I am so happy that you enjoyed the article and the website. Believe me; this site is fueled by the Holy Spirit and not by me.
Indeed it is so important to keep our focus on God during the perilous times we are living in currently. We must remember what the Scripture says in Isa 26:3, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
Thanks for commenting!
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This is a very interesting article about the mind and God. It is not something that I would have put together, but of course, thinking about it, we do communicate with God through our mind. I often send up a silent prayer to God, so it must be through my mind that I communicate with God.
And the same applies when God communicates with us, it is through our mind. Thank you for sharing such beautiful verses about peace as well.
Yes, the mind is where it all happens, as that is how God created us. That is why the mind is the battlefield between God and the enemy. Whichever one we yield to is the one that controls us (Romans 6:16).
Thanks for commenting!
The human mind is a powerful tool. It can be used to process and understand the complex world around us. It can also be used to think about things that are beyond our understanding. When we use our minds to think about God, we are using one of the most amazing tools that we have.God is love. (1 John 4:8) This is one of the most important truths about Him. When we think about God, we should focus on His love for us. He loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us. (John 3:16)When we focus on God’s love for us, it changes the way that we see the world. We no longer see everything as being against us. Instead, we see everything as working together for our good.
Yes, Julia, we indeed do need to focus on the fact that everything is working together for our good! We must hold on to that hope until the end (Matt. 24:13).
Thanks for commenting!
Hey Nathaniel,Beautiful read, sometimes we underestimate the power of our mind and its connection to God. They say faith moves mountains, but I believe the power we put into our thoughts that make it possible to get closer to God. Our minds are all connected, but it is those who truly focus in meditation or prayer that really benefit from that connection. I’m happy to see the evidence was written in the book and I can go back to reading it, thank you for this.
You are welcome, Victor. The mind is a powerful tool, and if we use it effectively, it can indeed get us closer to God and move mountains.
Thanks for commenting!
One always tends to think of the mind and the brain as one thing and not two different things, but the brain is an essential organ and the mind is what gives us free will. God has given us the gift of free will and we can choose which way we go in life using our mind to make our choices (hopefully the right ones).
It is not always easy to make the right choices and it does help to pray over a dilemma and ask for God’s help when it comes to making the right choices in life as we as humans are so easily misled.
Hi Michel – The mind is contained in the brain, it is part of the brain, and the two go hand and hand. The will comes from the mind. You’re right, it can be difficult making the right choices and we must seek God’s help. Free will can be a double edged sword.
Thanks for commenting!
It is an interesting article from my perspective. Brain and mind are interrelated. One can not exist without the other. Worries, anxiety, jealousy come from outside and they worry you. If you trust and relies on God you can be in a peaceful mind and God helps you to be free from all of these. I believe in Jesus, God, and all God in any existing religion.I trust fully, God has created me. God is within me to guide, help in my bad time. Praying God gives me peace in my turbulent, anxious mind at times.
Yes Anusuya, prayer is communication with God and it is through our minds that the communication travels and through our minds that we receive the peace from God.
Have a blessed day!
I enjoyed your perspective on the relationship between our mind and God. And, the spiritual battle between God and satan for our minds. I would be interested in our thoughts on the heart and soul of the verse you quoted from Matthew “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind“ (Matt 22:37).What is the difference between heart, soul and mind? Also, king David being referred to as a man after God’s own heart. So many of us would define heart as simply our “feelings” which I believe would actually still reside in the mind. And, soul is a much more spiritual entity. Thanks,Rex
Hi Rex – Thanks for this question; it’s a good one. In Matthew 22:37, the Greek word translated as heart is kardia (kar-dee’-ah) and is used figuratively to represent thoughts and feelings. Soul is from the Greek word psuche (psoo-khay’) is also used figuratively to represent feelings, emotions, and the mind. The mind is from the Greek word dianoia (dee-an’-oy-ah) and represents deep thought. I’m sure you can see the close relationship between these terms. These three words are used interchangeably according to context.
Jesus wanted to make the point clear that we should love God with all of our being. He used all three words for emphasis.
Thanks for commenting, and I hope I have answered your question.
Mind and God are two words that are often used interchangeably. They both connote the concept of something that is not material or tangible, but rather that is not comprehensible. through the five physical senses. However, there are subtle differences between the two words that can be important to note.In this article you beautifully co-relate Heart, Soul and Mind. You talked about different aspects of the heart, soul and mind. All people have struggles in life from time to time and must find the strength to overcome these struggles or else they’ll build up within them. This article is about finding ways to keep your heart, soul and mind in a good state of being.The sayings “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” is just heart touching for me.Thanks for giving me the opportunity to review your article. I am so happy to be here today.
Hello Prashant – I am happy to know that you enjoyed the article. Yes, we must diligently work at keeping our hearts, minds, and souls in a spiritually healthy state.
Thanks for commenting!
Nathanial,
Great article! Your explanation and examples were spot on. Thanks again!
Stacey
I am glad to know that you enjoyed the article, Stacey. Thanks for commenting!
Good morning,
Your article was truly engaging and spot on. I enjoyed the way you provided biblical support for each comment and thought provided. If I may make one small suggestion, the wording on the left side of the green visual (God has given us everything we need for living a Godly life) was difficult to read because of the way the program inserted the visual. One small tweak would rectify that small issue. Otherwise, the content was laid out perfectly. Thanks for providing such insightful and much needed content.
Stacey
Hello Stacey – I’m glad that the article was informative for you. Thanks for the suggestion and for commenting.
Blessings always
This is a complex topic for me to comment on, as I have a different view of God and do not know the bible as well as you do. Christianity, for me, is hard to understand as I don’t understand some concepts like Satan and the Holy Spirit. The post talks about how God communicates with us through our minds; I can see you have a valid point, and I believe I can feel the Higher Power talks to me in the air I breathe, in the water that cleans up my body or in the grass I can walk in. I respect your point of view and appreciate that you are posting your knowledge and thoughts about your beliefs.
Hi Nel – I pray that as you continue to breathe the air, enjoy the water, and walk in the grass that you will be enlightened and and learn more about the “higher power.”
Thanks for commenting!
Hi there,I just reviewed your site, and I must say I loved it. We could all use more of GOD in our lives. Your article on mind and brain was thoughtful and well laid out, providing lots of information on the subject. Thank you, it was a pleasure to read. I have been a Christian for many years, and know GOD can test us in this area.God Bless,Have Fun,Kathi
Hi Kathi – So glad you’ve enjoyed the site and the article. New content is posted weekly, so I hope you visit again soon.
Thanks for commenting!
I really like the articles that you have on this site and what this website is about. Every article has so much information and is so detailed. A very good read and thought provoking. Indeed you can find true peace in the midst of chaos all around by casting your cares on God. If Christian can only apply these principles, oh what joy the would have.
Yes, Shevonne, If we would cast our cares on the Lord, joy and peace would prevail. As the Scripture reads in Ps.55:22, “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” NIV There are more passages on this truth.
I’m happy that you’ve enjoyed the site. New content is posted weekly so I hope you will visit again.
Thanks for commenting!
I agree that god is all in the mind. While the King James Version of the bible may mention the word “mind” in 92 verses, is that actually a significant number of mentions? The saying “thoughts and prayers” has been trending in recent years, and to me, it’s a saying that only serves as an excuse for a complete lack of meaningful action. Thoughts and prayers mean nothing without action.
Hello, again, my friend Aly! Actually, aren’t thoughts and prayers action? I think so. It takes energy to think and engage in thought, and it certainly takes energy to pray in earnest. The Scripture says in James 5:16, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” In other words, the prayer of a righteous individual is powerful and effective.
Thoughts and prayers may be trending just as OMG and used flippantly, but an individual who truly engages in thoughts and prayers is engaged in “meaningful action” and are on the right track.
God is not “all in the mind,” rather, He communicates with us in our minds; when we allow Him to do so. Here’s an example. Heb 8:10 contains the promise from God regarding the new covenant; it reads:
8 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
The original covenant was written on stone (The Ten Commandments), but with the advent of Christ, the new covenant was ushered in, and it is in the “mind” and the heart (2 Cor. 3:3).
Lastly, ninety-two verses are very significant. It certainly indicates that the mind is worth mentioning since it’s in the Word of God. Even one verse in the His Word is significant. In fact, I challenge you to read and study all 92 verses and tell me which ones are insignificant.
Thanks for commenting, Aly; it’s always a blessing to hear from you! Visit again soon!
Blessings!
I had to review and make sure the amount of times mind is mentioned in the Bible Chapter with God. When I read mind in a bible verse, that is God telling me to relax and turn over my mind to him for healing especially if I am stressed out. There are different beliefs by the word mind and God, that no one should try to correct anyone on! Just show support. I really liked reading your article about the mind and God and have shared with my social followers.
Hi Jannette – I’m glad to know that you enjoyed the article and are sharing it with your followers. Kudos to you for reviewing the verses on the mind. Yes, the Scriptures tell us that if we keep our focus on God, He will grant us peace (Isa. 26:3).
Thanks for commenting, and visit again soon!
Hey Nathaniel, great article speaking about the mind and God, I enjoyed reading it very much. I too, pray many times each day, in my mind or silently’ as well as out loud with my wife. I have experienced many of the things you speak about.I believe that God also communicates with us through his spirit. We can feel his promptings or indeed, hear them in our minds. I believe that in order to experience these blessings that we do nee to be ‘in tune’ with God, or living His commandments.
Hi William – I am glad that you enjoyed reading the article. Living His Commandments does keep us in tune with God through His Spirit. Keeping His Commandments is paramount, as the Scripture tells us in John 14:21
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Keeping His Commandments is how we show our love to Christ and the Father, and they show their love to us.
Thanks for commenting!
I believe that these two things are closely related and that they can work together to benefit us in many ways. When we have a strong connection to our minds, it gives us a greater ability to connect with others. This can help us form deeper relationships and better understand the world around us. Thanks for this info!
You are correct, JD; they are very closely related. It is essential that we have control over our minds to keep the connection strong. That will be covered in the next article.
Thanks for commenting!
Does spirituality have something to do with the mind and god also the spiritual war too?I find it fascinating that God made a purpose between our brain and mind. I agree with what the article said about god making our physical bodies but also how the brain is physical but the mind is spiritual in some sort of way. Stating that the purpose of the mind is what we love god with it. He created it so we would learn and know why we love God and the purpose of it. The quote “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” tells me that the mind is our conscious and that we are fully aware of the actions we take every day.Whether the actions we take are good or bad god made it so that we can know if we are worthy or not to go to heaven and please God’s will. There will never be peace in our time, never has been as conflict will always go on as a long the people disobey gods will and let the devil win by giving to all these temptations, drugs, and other horrible things that are out there.
Spiritual warfare is the battle between righteousness and unrighteousness (the Spirit and the Flesh, good and evil), and it takes place in the mind where our thoughts and decisions occur. The Spirit and the flesh are in a constant battle with one another. The Scripture tells us in Gal 5:17:
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
So we are aware of our actions, and we have free will to choose those actions. If we want to fulfill God’s will, we must yield to the Spirit. Gal. 5:16 contains the answer: “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
Thanks for commenting!
I’ve got to say this is a very thrilling topic. I personally have lived my whole life not being able to define what the mind is, I always thought it was the brain. As I was reading I ended up having quite a lot of questions, to begin with is the mind and the heart the same according to the bible? I saw a verse Math 22:37 that said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind“. According to this it seems as though the mind and the heart are two different things. I might just be the one who really isn’t understanding the scriptures so if you would please shed a bit of light on whether the mind and the heart are two different things and if they are different then how exactly.
Greetings Nelson – You have asked a great question. The heart and the mind are different physically. However, in the Scriptures, they are used figuratively and interchangeably to address the inner part of the soul. Jesus threw in all three elements (heart, soul, and mind) to emphasize the point that we are to love God with all of our might, with everything that we have. Loving God is a very serious matter and cannot be taken lightly.
I pray that this answers your question. If not, feel free to get in touch, and I will explain further.
Thanks for visiting and commenting!
I learned God communicates through the mind; therefore, if you want peace focus your thoughts on God and put your faith in him. About understanding the relationship between the mind and God, my experience reading the bible was great. My opinion about the King James version was amazing. Our thoughts are shaped and molded by the things we learn from the Bible, but also by the wickedness around us. We sometimes need a reminder to get back on the right path.
You are so right John, there is a constant battle between righteousness and wickedness (Gal. 5:17), and we need to stay on the correct track.
Thanks for commenting!
Philippians 2:5 says let that seem mind that was in Christ Jesus be in you Because we are made in God’s Image and Likeness it is His desire that we take on the mind of Christ because when we do we will be living the kind of life that God wants us to live and he online way this can happen s through pray and the word of God. Thanks so much for sharing.
Hi Norman – Yes, we are to have the same mind of Christ to live the life that God desires us to live. We can only accomplish this with the help of the Holy Spirit that He sent us.
Thanks for commenting!