Love God with all Thy Mind

The Lord desires us to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18. To have this knowledge of Christ, our minds must continuously broaden and expand in order to comprehend His works and His character.

Jesus instructs us, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Matthew 22:37 KJV. But what does it mean to love God? The Lord tells us, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 KJV.

God’s purpose is to save the world from ruin. Those that love God will join in His purpose to save humanity. Therefore the Lord instructs us to use all our heart, soul and mind in loving Him or in His work of soul saving.

It is important to understand how to keep the brain in good health so that our minds can be clear and penetrating. The faculties of the brain such as memory, perception, reason, will, imagination etc, are collectively known as the mind. God wants us to have these faculties reach their highest potential under His guidance and in His work of being a blessing to humanity.

There are several ways in which the brain can become impaired or weakened, the first is through personal injury and the other is by poor physical health. The health of the entire system affects the brain. One system that has a more direct impact on the brain is the digestive system. The brain is directly linked to the gut and other digestive organs via a nerve called the vagus nerve.

The vagus nerve originates at the brain stem, within the medulla oblongata. It goes down the neck, chest, and into the abdominal region. Its branches reach multiple organs, which includes the heart, lungs, liver, spleen, stomach, intestines, and kidneys. The vagus nerve forms a part of the gut-brain axis, which is a complex bidirectional link between the gut and the brain. It involves the immune system, the endocrine system and the gut microbiota.

Any slight abuse to the stomach reduces the efficiency of the brain. For example, indigestion causes poor concentration and irritability; and overeating results in short term memory loss and even brain fog if it is chronic. Poor gut health can also result feelings of despondency or a lack of faith.

To preserve the strength of our mind, a great place to begin is by keeping our gut healthy and strong. In this month’s issue of The Healthy Christian, we will discuss how we can have a strong healthy gut by eating the right amount of food, not having water with our meals and avoiding the use of spices.

Quantity of Food

The quantity of food we eat should be moderate, meeting our calorie and nutritional needs. God has given us the freedom and ability to judge the amount of food we need to eat at each meal. When the Lord gave the children of Israel manna, His instructions were that each man should take “according to his eating” or in other words, his need. “This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it [manna] every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents.” Exodus 16:16 KJV.

It is interesting to note that the Lord did not point out the exact amount that each person is to eat. That is up to our judgement. Overeating is more common than under-eating, and it has a deleterious effect on the brain and other organs. Whenever we eat more than we need, extra blood has to be sent to the stomach to aid in digestion; because the blood carries the oxygen that the gut needs to produce energy.

This extra blood takes away from the brain and other organs. Therefore with the brain having less blood, its nerves will not have sufficient energy to transmit nerve impulses or to carry-out mental processes. Therefore symptoms such as poor concentration, short term memory loss, brain fog and a weakened perception will result. The nerves of the brain can even become benumbed or partially paralysed by overeating.

The Lord would have us eat for our strength, which is essentially eating no more than to satisfy our hunger. “Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way.” 1 Samuel 28:22 KJV.

Water with meals

Digestion is a complex process of breaking down food into microscopic particles that can be absorbed into the bloodstream. Digestive enzymes are proteins that are made in the mouth pancreas and in the pancreas. Amylase is made in the mouth, and it initiates the breakdown complex carbohydrates. Lipase and protease are made in the pancreas, and they break down fats and proteins respectively. The stomach also contains hydrochloric acid which breaks down protein.

Our digestive enzymes and stomach acid are diluted whenever we consume water with our meals. The dilution will decrease the potency of the digestive enzymes. The stomach has to then absorb the excess fluid before digestion can take place, which causes the digestive process to slow down or be incomplete. Having water with meals often result in indigestion and acid reflux. Therefore it is wise to avoid having water or juice with our meals.

“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.” 1 Corinthians 9:25 KJV. Temperance in how we drink water is important in order to keep the gut healthy. It is recommended that we have water 30 minutes prior to and 1 to 1.5 hours after each meal.

Spices

Spices and herbs are used to add flavour, texture and aroma to cooked or raw meals. They differ slightly by definition, but are often used synonymously. Herbs are typically the leaves or stems of herbaceous (non-woody) plants, they can be fresh or dried. Spices, on the other hand, are harvested from the root, flower, seeds, fruit or bark of certain plants. Some examples of spices are nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper and turmeric.

Herbs, when used in moderation, are usually harmless unless the individual has an allergic reaction; but spices are known to irritate the delicate lining of the stomach causing acid reflux and indigestion. The Bible tells us that spices were used only for their aromatic and preservative properties. “And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary.” Exodus 37:29 KJV “Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.” John 19:40 KJV. Use of spices in the diet has its origins in heathen cultures.

The Lord wants us to know ourselves. He wants us to understand the effects of physical health on our mind and spirit. I pray that the Lord will strengthen all of us to consider these health tips and to put them into practice, so that our minds can be strengthened, thereby we may “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18.