Mind/Spiritual Dynamics

[Robert S. Williams, Jr.]

Proverbs 4:23 instructs: Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of

life. It is as if the teacher said: Guard riches, property, health, body, everything, in short, in

which you have a legitimate interest, or which is advantageous. But before and above everything else, keep a guard on your heart. Now, the conjunction "for" introduces the reason.

The fact here stated is that the "moral" conduct of life, its actions and proceedings, are deter-

mined by the condition of the heart. It is very beneficial to recognize that the word heart in the

Hebrew is "Leb" which is interpreted as heart, mind and midst; it also refers to the inner part

or middle of a thing. So if the mind (heart) is pure, the life will be pure; if the mind is corrupt,

the life will be corrupt. The mind, here, is compared with a fountain; it is the seat of the affec-

tions and the center of the moral consciousness (see Luke 6:45). A well-guarded mind is the

spring and source of all that is best in human life. Your awareness in the protecting of your

mind is enhanced with a better understanding of how your mind functions. You have one mind, but your mind possesses two distinctive characteristics. The two functions of your mind

are essentially unlike. Each, the objective and the subjective, or the conscious and subcon-

scious, is endowed with separate and distinct attributes and powers. Your conscious mind is the reasoning mind. It is that phase of mind which chooses. Your subconscious mind accepts what is impressed upon it or what you consciously believe; it does not reason things out like your conscious mind. Your subconscious is like the soil which accepts any kind of seed, good or bad. Your thoughts are active and might be likened unto seeds. Negative de-

structive thoughts continue to work negatively in your subjective mind, and in due time will come forth into outer experience which corresponds with them. A knowledge of the interaction of your conscious and subconscious minds will enable you to transform your life

(see Romans 12:2) It is the world within, namely, your thoughts, feellings, and imagery that makes your world without. You can bring into your life more power, more wealth, more health

more happiness and more joy by learning to contact and release the hidden power of your

subjective mind, or your inner man or inner woman. Too, know you need not acquire this power; you already possess it. Within your "deep self" lie the "power of God" which is in-

finite power, infinite wisdom and infinite supply of all that is necessary, which is waiting for

development and expression.