August | 2022 | Pentecost

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The Renewed Mind

By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved

The renewed is an incredible area for Biblical research, teaching and application. The words “renewing of your mind (renewed mind), are found in the New Testament Bible, in the book of Romans.

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Romans 12:2 KJV

When it comes to the brain (the physical organ of reception and perception), and the mind (Greek nous, the mental organ of reception and perception), there are separate parts designed, to make a whole. It begins with our sensors, which are normally, our five senses. They are sight, smell, and taste, sound and touch.

There are two hemispheres of the brain and they sometimes share similar functions, but each is separate or independent of the other, but normally, they are supposed to` work together, for whole thinking. Another word is, they are supposed to be interdependent. By nature, nurture, choice or lack of ‘know-how’ and practice, we are left brain or right brain dominated. It should not be unbalanced, but equal. Some of these differences between the two hemispheres are as follows:

The Two Hemispheres

It is interesting to me in music, creativity (expressive arts), imagination and the mechanical or (in motor skills), like playing an instrument, rhythm (beats), and the tune of a song are best produced on the Right side of the brain. Whereas the words in a song are best suited, on the Left side of the brain. I would say singing is a motor skill that is required to develop, in order to become a fine singer. This explains why it may initially be difficult to vocalize the words of a song while playing and singing a song. The words sung come from the left side of the brain, while how it sounds is from the right. This is also an example of both sides of the brain working together to produce something without overlaps, chaos or confusion. Its successful “working together” is an example of the ‘Renewed Mind’, being transformed by the renewing of ones mind.

Faculties of the Mind

There are at least and what I believe are seven faculties of the mind. “Faculties” is a great word! Just imagine many professors or faculties required for our minds to function properly. These accepted faculties are— reason, memory, perception, will, intuition and imagination. I know, I wrote above I believe there are seven. Keep reading.

Reason

The definition of the verb “reason” is to form conclusions, judgments, or inferences from facts or premises. It involves choosing or selecting certain facts or premises and using them to establish conclusions, judgments or inferences. A person will choose their facts or premises, from either of two areas which are: Ideas which they have formulated and which reside in their objective or conscious mind and information conveyed to the objective or conscious mind, via the physical senses.

Memory

Like building a muscle, practice or repetition strengthens the neural network or increases the speed of the neurons firing between each other and in close proximity. Both the Left and Right hemispheres of the brain utilize memory, but generally, the right side is more efficient. It is far better to put something into our memory and later are able and quickly can recall it, if using memory aides. The ancient Greek orators were trained and skilled in being able to memorize and recall long and detailed speeches, by using such memory aides. Their often long-winded oratories (speeches), as if they were speaking as inspired in the moment (like from some god or the gods), or extemporaneously (impromptu, without preparation, notes, and etc.). But they had a system, a memory system which used the left side of the brain to speak while using the right side to remember it for later recall. They would visualize their familiar (the homes where they actually lived), beginning with the loki, the vestibule of their home. The loki was the “first place” one would see, coming to the home. This carry-over to the present day is still being used especially in writing and speaking for example, “the first point (loki), that I would like to begin with is…

The literal physical home was being used mentally or visualized while associating with the abstract. The orator could easily see in their mind their loki (“first place”), and entire home easily, because it was familiar to them and they had seen it countless times before. Then they would just associate something strange or weird or different with their familiars. The whole process made it easier to recall and they could be looking right at their audience while actually walking through their own homes room by room in their minds. They did not have to be concerned about people staring at them either! 🙂

Perception

Perception includes the five senses; touch, sight, sound, smell, and taste. It also includes what is known as proprioception or kinesthesia, your body’s ability to sense movement, action, and location. It’s present in every muscle movement we have. It detects changes in body positions and movements. It also involves the cognitive processes required to process information, such as recognizing the face of a friend or detecting a familiar scent.

Will

Will (free will), is important as one of the parts of the mind, along with reason and understanding. It is considered central to the field of ethics because of its role in enabling deliberate action. As one can will to do the right thing thay can also will to do its opposite.

Intuition

Intuition is a form of knowledge that appears in consciousness without obvious deliberation. It is not magical, but rather a faculty in which hunches are generated by the unconscious mind, rapidly sifting through past experience and cumulative knowledge. It is often referred to as “gut feelings”. Spiritually, this faculty may be where revelation is given a Christian. The difference between intuition and revelation may be known outside of the individual by the results. And this is why the seventh faculty of the mind is Truth, to be able to separate the differences between intuition and revelation.

Imagination

Imagination refers to holding in the mind a representation that may not yet be, but could be. It may not yet reflect the facts about the external world or the reality of the present. The faculty of imagination may use previous memories and a general knowledge of the world to recreate or change past memories or to imagine novel future events. Einstein said it is greater than knowledge. To a child that is allowed to be a child and encouraged to “play”, play is the province of imagination.

The highest achievement of a “natural man” [all-inclusive noun], without the spirit of God by natural ability, talent, and/or personal effort would be the nearly balanced and maximum development of all the faculties of mind. It is what all civilized, healthy and educated people strive towards— a whole, healthy and educated person.

But the best that this person of body and soul can do, is the best that they can do.
As great as it is, it will still fall short of a tripartite being, whose mind is being renewed
and a life transformed as it proves to themselves, what is that good, acceptable, and
perfect will of God.

Truth

Truth is a faculty that is only available to a Christian. Truth, like all the other faculties, must be developed. Truth is similar to Reason, but all the other faculties must be weighed and balanced by truth (spiritual knowledge), over all other faculties combined. The mind (the whole mind), must be willingly, a servant to truth above all. God does not ask of us anything that we are not capable of nor that He is unwilling to do himself.

“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”

Psalm 138:2

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;”

John 8:31 KJV

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 8: 32 KJV

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

I Corinthians 2:14

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”

Ephesians 3:20

How the Ancient Greeks and the Greek New Testament of the Bible,
Used Different Words Translated as Knowledge

agnoeό ignorant— ag (out, without, out of) + nous and its form noeό (mind). Alpha, is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. (alpha) is used as a prefix (called its “privative use”), and typically means “no” or “not”, “un-,” without”), hence, “ag” Greek words, whose first letter (of the root), is alpha, can not take an “alpha-privative” to negate them, so the only way to express their “antithesis” is using a negative particle before
them, as (ag”). So (ag) “out” + noeό (nous) “mind” = out of mind
Note: An agnostic is one that will not make up their mind.

eido (oida) “knowledge” is to be aware, consider, perceive. The word video is derived from this word. Like reading something from a book, this form of knowledge was considered basic or even common compared to ginosis

ginosis, also translated “knowledge” is “experiential knowledge” and valued

sophia, also translated “knowledge” is wisdom, the application of knowledge

sunesis also translated “knowledge” is, understanding. sunesis (which is transliterated over to synthesis means, “a running together” It was used of two rivers, Homer, Odyssey 10, 515. “two roaring rivers.”

In the ancient Greek mind and as the Greek words are used in the Greek New Testament of the Bible knowledge— eido (oida) was the beginning of some river on top of a mountain, like as gathered or collected snow melt.

The point at which this knowledge began to flow and down the mountain, this
knowledge (experiential knowledge), was called ginosis.

When, for example, another river began to flow downward from the other side of the mountain, the application of two or more branches of experiential knowledge (ginosis) are applied, this knowledge was called sophia, “ wisdom” and is, “the application of knowledge”.

As these rivers experiential knowledge (ginosis), flow downward at the same time, this application of knowledge was “wisdom” (sophia). But as they, this experiential knowledge (ginosis), and applied knowledge “wisdom” (sophia), reached the bottom of the mountain and at the point where they began to flow together, this knowledge is called sunesis “understanding” from which the word synthesis is derived.

It is all so logical, and of “logic” the Greeks were particularly committed.

“For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom (Gr. sophian) “wisdom”).”

I Corinthians 1:22 KJV

The words logo, logic and etc. are derived from the Greek words logikos and logos. The Word (The logos) is logical. The Word (The logos), also referring to God who is logical and He is, the logos.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

John 1:1 KJV

Every usage of the word “Word” above is, the Greek word logos

As a prayer, the psalmist asks God to order his steps, but actually, he is willing to place his feet where God would have him go because, he trusts God.

“Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.”

Psalm 119:33

What beautiful imagery can be brought up or imagined, when we willingly and lovingly allow God to order our steps. This is the logical action. This is the renewed mind when all the facilities of the mind are enlarged and balanced and can handle much information and even apparent contrary information without overlap, fatigue or confusion. Our twin brains are equal and are working together in harmony.

This is whole brain thinking. This is our only “religious” service if you want to call it this, but Christianity is not a religion. It is a vital spiritual relationship (a full fellowship), with God the Father and God the Creator. No wonder He wants us to “renew” our minds, so He can enjoy sweet times with us, beside us, along side of us, over, under, behind, through and inside us!

Enjoy the imagery to follow and say to the Father, you want Him to order your steps too!