According to research from neuroscientists, mental exercise can help reverse some effects of aging in the brain. These activities have helped older adults regain cognitive sharpness because these types of activities boost acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter vital for learning and memory. Overall, it goes to show that the mind, like the mind, has the capacity to grow stronger through discipline and effort.
The best mental exercise for Christians is engaging in God’s Word, as it is essential for the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2) and the strengthening of our faith (Romans 10:17). That being said, let us consider the following question:
If our minds can be renewed through effort and attention, how much more might our spirits be transformed when we dwell daily in God’s truth—exchanging weariness for the fresh wisdom only He can give?
Thinking about this question makes me think about how the apostle Paul says to train ourselves for the purpose of godliness, also known as spiritual discipline.
“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8
Spiritual Discipline of the Mind
The apostle emphasized the importance of spiritual discipline over physical discipline. This likewise applies to the mind. The discipline of the mind is essential because it builds our well-being. Similar to working out, there must be a level of effort and consistency for significant results. Discipline also matters because it provides structure that motivation does not. Motivation is sentimental only, hyping you up for a moment in time, only for it to fade away. So you can get hyped up in reading the Bible or reading this post in encouraging you to read the Bible, but that alone won’t suffice. Building discipline is essential because then you will take action regardless of motivation. You will want to make sure that you are getting it done because you don’t want to lose that consistency.
When it comes to the spiritual discipline of the mind, you want to move forward in daily spiritual discipline, such as prayer and reading God’s Word, because that will result in heart transformation. As Paul says, godliness is of value in “every way” whereas bodily training is “of some value”, stressing how much spiritual discipline is important for you and me as believers because we are so prone to becoming distracted or complacent.
Reading God’s Word
“Faith comes by hearing and by hearing the words of Christ.” - Romans 10:17
The first principle is our faith being cultivated by the word of Christ. It is the nourishment we need for our souls. Christians know that it is more than reading a book, but it is reading the Word of God that is infallible, inerrant, and authoritative. It is divinely inspired, so we know that our faith is strengthened when we read it. This is where consistency comes into play because I know it is easy to become distracted and complacent. Each day is an opportunity to move forward. The more we do it, the more we will grow. And we grow in our knowledge of God because we want to know Him more, not just about Him. So when it comes to reading the Bible, it’s done devotional because it is done relationally.
It’s easy to say “I have to read the Bible “ as if it’s some sort of chore. Let’s change up the language, shall we? Instead, we should say, “I get to read the Bible.” Therefore, we should be delighted when it comes to reading the Scriptures because it is God’s Word to us. He speaks to us through His Word and gives it to us as the means of grace for the sanctification of His church. In John 17, Christ prays that His disciples be sanctified in truth for “Your word is truth” (John 17:17). The apostle writes, “that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word”(Ephesians 5:26). The Word of God is essential to our sanctification because it confirms us to Christ.
Studying God’s Word
In addition to reading, we must diligently study the scriptures so that they help us grow in depth about the Word. This engages the mind because it helps us comprehend what we are reading. The sad tragedy in the church today is that not many study the Word, let alone read it. Not only is there no discipline, but there is no desire to study. It is not something that crosses anyone’s mind, let alone intrigues them. This also applies to people who say, “I don’t need theology, I just love God,” let reading and studying the Bible be doing theology because theology has to do with the study of God. It is good to study, especially when the end goal is knowing God more.
Consequently, not studying the Word makes one susceptible to false teaching because there is a lack of discernment. Going back to Romans 10:17, “Faith comes by hearing and by hearing the words of Christ”. How can we build on faith when we are not spending time in His Word? In the book of Hebrews, the author explains how a lack of discernment is tied to spiritual immaturity.
“About this, we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” - Hebrews 5:11-14
First, we see how important it is to be in the Word because it goes hand in hand with discernment. Although we are not perfect, Christians are to be in a continued state of growth in the long run as part of our sanctification.
Meditating on God’s Word
Another discipline we can establish is meditating on God’s Word, which we are to do day by day (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2). The mind is further engaged through biblical meditation, which fills one’s mind with the Word of God. This contrasts with eastern meditation, which is more about emptying the mind instead of filling it. Biblical meditation is the sharpening of the mind with the Word of God, which has been referred to as a “double-edged sword”(Hebrews 4:12) and the “sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18). It is good for mental sharpness because it provides something to focus on, which in this case is the Scriptures.
Additionally, biblical meditation doesn’t just engage the mind but should prompt us to take action. Let us be hearers, not doers, when we spend time in God’s Word (James 1:22). Let us take action and utilize this means of grace, the Word of God, in our lives for His glory and our good. At the end of the day, it is ultimately about building our relationship with God, and that is the best goal we could have.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Milad Fakurian
